European food innovation consortium victory includes ABP Food Group

ABP Food Group has been chosen to spearhead an innovative food research project as part of a leading consortium across Europe. This consortium is composed of 50 entities, including top-tier companies, cutting-edge technology firms, premier research bodies, and organizations focused on consumer engagement. Selected by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) through a rigorous selection process, this consortium is tasked with enhancing food production processes across the entire supply chain. In the coming seven years, the consortium plans to allocate nearly €1200 million, with an additional funding of up to €400 million provided by EIT. This initiative, dubbed EIT Food, aims to launch four key innovation projects addressing significant food-related societal issues: - FoodConnects Assistant: This project will delve into personalized health food and nutrition. - The Web of Food: Aims to digitize the food system. - Your Farm2Fork: Focuses on consumer-led supply chain improvements and the integration of new technologies in agriculture, processing, and retail. - The Zero Waste Agenda: Seeks to shift from the traditional linear food model to a circular bio-economy. EIT Food also plans to educate thousands of students and professionals in the food industry through a variety of formats, including workshops, summer schools, and online courses. The consortium boasts a diverse membership, including industry giants such as Robert Bosch, Siemens, PepsiCo, Nestle, Sodexo, John Deere, Givaudin, Matis, Nielsen, and esteemed academic institutions like Queens University Belfast, Cambridge University, and the University of Reading. Dean Holroyd, Group Technical and Sustainability Director at ABP Food Group, expressed enthusiasm about joining this significant initiative, highlighting the opportunity to collaborate with global leaders to enhance sustainable beef production and processing. He emphasized the consortium's potential to positively transform food production both in Europe and globally. Peter van Bladeren, Vice President of Nestec, Global Head of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs for Nestlé, and Chair of the Interim Supervisory Board of EIT Food, underscored EIT Food's commitment to developing a future-focused curriculum for students and professionals in the food sector. He noted this effort as a catalyst for innovation and business development, poised to give the European food manufacturing industry, which supports 44 million jobs, a distinct competitive advantage. The EIT, an autonomous EU entity established in 2008 and inspired by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has previously facilitated collaborative research endeavors between the business sector and academic institutions in various fields, including Climate, Digital, Health, and Sustainable Energy.