Analytical techniques for the measurements of chemical and microbial contaminations along the food chain require detection levels in the ppb range. A direct measurement of contaminants at theses concentrations in a food matrix is not possible by any photonics principle. PHOTONFOOD aims to overcome this barrier by developing an integrated solution that combines innovations in smart paper-based sample treatment, mid-infrared (MIR) sensing and advanced data analysis. Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy has proven to be the most reliable and broadly applicable spectroscopic method for detection, characterization and quantification of chemical and microbial contamination. To transform MIR sensing from existing lab solutions into a portable solution to broad usage in the food chain, PHTONFOOD aims to develop novel infrared light sources, specifically interband cascade light emitting diode (IC-LED), and interband and quantum cascade lasers (ICL/QCL). The light sources will be combined with sophisticated waveguide technology and 3D-paper microfluidics. The project will develop a solution consisting of: (1) A mid-fidelity (MI-FI) device with an envisioned low-price range that can be used for daily monitoring, and (2) a medium-price range high-fidelity (HI-FI) device for reference analysis and accreditation. The solution will be validated and demonstrated in real scenarios for fungal and water mould (oomycetes) contamination, mycotoxins in wheat, nuts, dried fruits and aquaponic-based herbs, as well as pesticides and antibiotics in aquaponic-based herbs. The research will be performed by a multidisciplinary and highly acknowledged research team in collaboration with leading mycotoxin analysis laboratories, an aquaponics farm, a distributor of dry foods and farms with on-site food processing and vending. Strategies for transferring the obtained data and integrating it into data platforms for tracing food contamination, improving food quality and reducing waste will be developed.

In Europe, each year foodborne hazards, including bacteria, parasites, bacterial toxins and allergens, already cause more than 20 million cases of illness and thousands of deaths. Foodborne chemical risk, often associated with occurrence of toxins, are of growing concern. Food safety management systems established over the past decades in our European food businesses, and European food safety governance need to be adapted to make the food system more robust towards multiple stressor coming dynamically up (so as climatic impacts). FoodSafeR aims to design, develop and test the building blocks of an innovative pro-active and holistic food safety warning and management system with a look on the dynamics of emerging risks at its heart. FoodSafeR embodies integrated approaches to hazard characterisation and risk management in a comprehensive suite of future oriented case studies, tools, methods, strategies, models, guidance and training materials. An open and accessible digital hub designed to form a core of a sustaining information system will be set up as a One-Stop-Shop vehicle targeted at risk managers and assessors, food safety authorities and the relevant actors and stakeholders operating in the European food system. To reach the ambitious goal, FoodSafeR has united a world-class consortium of 18 organisations from across 14 European countries integrating science, industry, SMEs and policymakers. FoodSafeR will contribute to prevent food safety incidences occuring from biological and chemical hazards in the European food system as well as relevant socio-economic impacts. By bringing this approach to a success, FoodSafeR contributes to sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems delivering co-benefits for climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental sustainability and circularity, sustainable healthy nutrition, safe food consumption, food poverty reduction, the empowerment of communities, and flourishing food business operations.

SecureFood adopts an integrated, systems-thinking approach that acknowledges and embraces the complexity of food systems,addressing them as an interconnected network of actors, elements, activities, processes, infrastructures, and essential services related to the production and delivery of food. Based on this approach, it brings together, as consortium partners, multiple actors of the food supply chain itself, such as producers, food and beverages industries retailers and consumers, but also actors supporting the functioning of the supply chain, such as bulk carriers and road transport carriers. The actors network also includes Ministries and entities operating under their auspices responsible for coordinating national resilience-building efforts.The ultimate goal is to address the aforementioned food security challenges, by creating an ecosystem of scientific knowledge, collaborative processes, and digital tools. This ecosystem will provide evidence-based indications on the risks and vulnerabilities of different value chains(grain,fruits& vegetables,fish& aquaculture products,milk& dairy products)in different geographic contexts, and will contribute in a structured manner to the safeguarding of food security before and during crises, and to the reinforcement of food systems resilience.The cornerstone of SecureFood will be a Food Systems Resilience Management Framework with interlinked resilience and sustainability orientations as well as a Resilience Governance Framework that draws on collaborative principles and adopts inclusive and participatory processes to ensure successful cooperation between experts and stakeholders.The SecureFood ecosystem will be developed, tested and demonstrated for different case studies, one of which addressing a currently ongoing food security crisis,i.e. Ukraine’s grain value chain that has been severely impacted by Russia’s invasion and the disruption in grain shipments that has pushed millions people into poverty or food insecurity