From fava beans to future foods: researchers turn to plant-based proteins for a healthier planet

EU-funded researchers are looking for alternative sources of protein to balance the environmental impact of meat production. © pbd Studio, Shutterstock.com

Crops like chickpeas, fava beans, lentils and quinoa could help make Europe’s food systems more environmentally friendly and sustainable. By Michael Allen On Marianne Mulhall’s organic dairy farm in southeast Ireland, the winter wheat crop is looking better than usual. By spring, it is often a bit yellow and withered, a sign that it is … Read more

AI-powered robots help tackle Europe’s growing e-waste problem

To tackle a growing amount of electronic waste, researchers have created robots to make recycling smarter, greener and more efficient. © Stokkete, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers have developed adaptable robots that could transform the way we recycle electronic waste, benefiting both the environment and the economy. By Kaja Šeruga Just outside the historic German town of Goslar, a sprawling industrial complex receives an endless stream of discarded electronics. On arrival, this electronic waste is laboriously prepared for recycling. Electrocycling … Read more

Cities of tomorrow: young Poles share vision for smarter, greener living

European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva talks to young Poles in Warsaw about their vision for European cities of tomorrow. © European Union, 2025

European cities of the future should be greener, smarter and more inclusive, according to young Poles who shared their vision during the EU Youth Policy Dialogue in Warsaw. By Eleni Dragona What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “city”? For most of us, it is crowds, busy roads … Read more

Sowing the seeds of greater food diversity in Africa

Food system labs across Africa are analysing the nutritional value of less-used crops and their potential to tackle malnutrition. © HealthyDiets4Africa, 2024

Diversifying food sources and developing underused, nutrient-rich crops could help combat malnutrition and enhance food security in Africa. By Andrew Dunne When crop scientist Michael Frei grew up in Germany in the 1980s, television screens were filled with scenes of poverty, drought and destruction in Africa. The 1984 Ethiopian famine brought home to millions the … Read more