Seeds of change: Can Europe’s organic farming shape the future of food?

Researchers are helping Europe’s organic farmers boost production and navigate stringent rules and costs. © Jacob Lund, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are working across countries and sectors to boost organic farming, support farmers and shape policy to help meet the target of 25% organic farmland in Europe and a significant increase in organic aquaculture by 2030. By Maria Vlastara From fancy oat milk lattes to organically grown produce at the local market, organic food … Read more

Magic of microalgae: sustainable ingredients for food, feed and fragrance

Microalgae can now be grown at scale and turned into components for food and industry. © yanishevska, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are scaling up sustainable production of microalgae-based proteins, lipids, pigments and carbohydrates that could transform food, animal feed and fragrance industries worldwide. By Kaja Šeruga On the outskirts of Lisbon, an abandoned industrial site has been given a new lease of life as a state-of-the-art biorefinery. It is scaling up the production of … Read more

Turning local know-how into European solutions for smarter bio-based farming

Sharing good practices will help farms and forests become more sustainable and open up new eco-friendly income streams. © Theastock, Shutterstock.com

Farmers and foresters across Europe are sharing sustainable bio-based practices and technologies, showing how local knowledge and European collaboration can help drive the transition to a greener future. By Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro Michalis Genitsariotis, a former salesman turned olive grower from the northern Greek region of Halkidiki, is constantly learning in his “second life” as … Read more

Fighting fire with innovation: a pan-European push to tackle extreme wildfires

Researchers pioneer new ways to fight wildfires, combining smart technology and local knowledge. © Steve Photography, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers, firefighters and communities are pioneering innovative, collaborative approaches to build landscapes able to withstand increasingly extreme wildfires. By Maria Vlastara Asier Larrañaga Ochoa de Eguileor, a wildfire analyst at the Catalan Fire and Rescue Service, experienced the Solsonès wildfire in Spain in 1998 and still remembers it as a revelation. “I had basic … Read more

Keeping it real: the hidden battle against fake food

The high value of extra virgin olive oil makes it a prime target for food fraud. © sebra, Shutterstock.com

From Mediterranean olive oil to Scandinavian fish, researchers are integrating digital technologies into Europe’s key food industries to crack down on counterfeit products. By Ali Jones The rolling hills of Umbria present an idyllic view of some of Italy’s finest and oldest olive groves. Now these ancient orchards are helping to combat food fraud, a … Read more