This year started off on an ambitious and inspiring note, as four EU projects that count Foodscale Hub in their consortium have kickstarted in January! Each project is dedicated to addressing diverse challenges and fostering innovation. From sustainable agriculture to redefining livestock systems, these initiatives embody a shared commitment to a more competitive and sustainable future.
Digi4Live
The EU project Digi4Live will run until 2028 and in the meantime it aims to enhance the utilisation of data and digital technologies within the European livestock industry. By fostering collaboration among farmers, technology suppliers, authorities, and other stakeholders, the project aims to develop innovative digital solutions for livestock tracking. This collaborative approach supports the integration of current and emerging technologies in livestock management. Additionally, Digi4Live contributes to the establishment of standardised regulations, removing barriers to data and technology adoption. Furthermore, the project provides evidence of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of data-driven solutions in the livestock sector, ultimately facilitating more efficient administration and informed decision-making.
OpenAgri
The OpenAgri project endeavours to transform digital farming by offering farmers open-source, cost-effective, and energy-efficient Agricultural Digital Solutions (ADSs). These solutions operate seamlessly in remote areas with limited connectivity, addressing challenges such as high costs, low trust, and limited connectivity. The team around the project believes in democratising technology, empowering farmers through open-source software and hardware, overcoming barriers to adoption, and promoting innovative collaboration for tailored, real-world solutions.
Foodscale Hub (FSH) heads the efforts in Ecosystem Building and Expansion, focusing on widespread dissemination, effective communication, and knowledge transfer in a multi-actor context. Acting as the Open Call leader, the Foodscale Hub team collaborates with nine Sustainable Innovation Pilots (SIPs) to establish a methodology for co-creating community-driven Agricultural Digital Solutions (ADSs), fostering innovation in the process.
TALLHEDA
TALLHEDA, running from 2024 to 2027, stands as a pioneering initiative dedicated to revolutionising agricultural Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Driven by a commitment to address societal challenges, it aims to propel the European Union toward enhanced competitiveness and sustainability. At its core, TALLHEDA seeks to bridge gaps in Research and Innovation (R&I) across Europe, with a specific focus on regions where scientific excellence and innovation output are presently deficient. Through targeted efforts, this ambitious project aims to foster a more robust R&I landscape, ensuring a collective stride towards a prosperous and sustainable future for the European Union.
FSH plays a supportive role in collaboration with partners to provide lectures, support academic visits, and facilitate exchanges. Additionally, FSH contributes to designing and delivering training seminars and Dissemination, Communication, and Networking activities, as well as multi-actor engagement and result exploitation efforts. Finally, FSH actively contributes to TALLHEDA through participation in various project management and coordination activities.
STEP UP
The STEP UP project aims to provide policymakers with thorough evidence on the impacts and values of livestock farming in the food system and wider ecosystem. Emphasising positive and negative aspects, it introduces Safe and Just Operating Space (SJOS) concepts to align future livestock systems with planetary boundaries. In the EU, STEP UP strives to transform current practices and policies through case studies, mapping frameworks, quantifying impacts, and proposing mitigation tools. By analysing Innovative Livestock Production Systems, it addresses the lack of information on European Livestock Production Systems and aims to upgrade traditional approaches for more sustainable livestock farming.
FSH leads the tasks related to crafting and executing strategic frameworks for STEP UP, focusing on effective dissemination, exploitation, and communication of project outcomes across European, regional, and local levels. Through a participatory approach, our team will map key stakeholders, devise engagement strategies, and create compelling narratives. Our commitment includes developing visual identities, interactive online platforms, and engaging content to foster community building and information sharing. Actively collaborating with projects and networks, we aim to share insights and findings impactfully.
Food Safety for Africa (FS4AFRICA) aims to improve African food safety systems – with particular attention to the informal sector – through local market transformation, enhancing food security and regional trade while reducing negative impacts on the environment, biodiversity, health, and society. Two open calls will be launched through cascaded funding as a mechanism to maximise the project’s impact and accelerate network expansion.
Conclusion
As FoodScale Hub embarks on these innovative projects, we invite you to stay connected and be part of our journey. Follow us on our LinkedIn page and explore our projects here.