Farmers need access to suitable organic seed but there is a lack of high-quality organic seeds in Europe. The EU-funded LIVESEED project addressed this by developing a new organic seed quality strategy, a Europe-wide seed database and sustainable breeding techniques that target specific farming conditions. By strengthening the EU’s organic agriculture, these results will benefit all citizens.
An EU-funded project has pioneered new techniques to detect and share information about infectious disease outbreaks. These methods will be used in the future to improve public health responses to pandemics. Already, some of the tools devised in the project are being further developed to specifically tackle the spread of COVID-19.
The food industry will face significant challenges in the future. However, an EU-funded project has created an international research network capable of confronting environmental threats as well as consumer demand for traceable, ethical ingredients.
Food-processing technology advances can help producers make healthier, more attractive food with a longer shelf life. To boost uptake of new methods, an EU-funded project has trialled three promising technologies under industrial conditions.
Oysters, mussels, clams... marine molluscs are valued as tasty sources of nutrients. They are also valuable sources of income for many regions. EU-funded research is developing new knowledge and innovative techniques to help tackle diseases that can affect the health of bivalves and the livelihoods of producers as well as consumer health.
An EU-funded project is developing in-water and satellite-based digital monitoring systems that can detect threats to Europe's drinking water supplies, improve water management and guard against dangerous water quality.
Stressed plants typically stop growing. An EU-funded project has developed and is applying an innovative approach to generate drought-resistant plants that continue to grow. This could play an important role in ensuring food security in areas where water is scarce.
As pressure grows to limit the use of conventional pesticides that may harm health and the environment, EU-funded researchers have brought eco-friendly alternatives a step closer to reality by turning insects' own hormones against them.
By sharing advanced methodologies and practical solutions for growers, traders, food and feed manufacturers, and policy makers, the EU-funded MycoKey project is strengthening the partnership between China and the EU.
Agricultural waste represents a huge pool of untapped resources that can be turned into valuable assets with many potential industrial applications. An EU-funded project is looking for innovative approaches to convert the growing amount of human-produced agricultural waste into eco-efficient, bio-based products.
