IMPROVE: Impact of alternative protein sources to improve nutrition

IMPROVE aims to integrate the latest advancements in research and innovation to promote the development, availability, and safe use of alternative protein sources, resulting in practical prototype solutions. These solutions aim to fulfill the goals outlined in the European Green Deal’s farm to fork strategy and the Food 2030 framework. The primary goal of IMPROVE is to transform food systems to enhance their sustainability, focusing on economic and social aspects, and to create a positive impact on the climate (addressing both mitigation and adaptation), biodiversity, the environment, circular practices, food safety, healthy diets, poverty reduction, and the success of businesses. It also seeks to improve circularity, resource efficiency, innovation, and community empowerment.

 

At the core of IMPROVE’s approach is a collaborative, multi-actor, and interdisciplinary research strategy that brings together academia, food industries, quality monitoring organizations, and consumers. This collective effort is tasked with analyzing and profiling alternative protein sources, assessing their environmental footprint and nutritional value, and comparing them with traditional animal-derived proteins and soybean meal. The findings will be utilized in technological experiments designed to simulate production on an industrial scale, with the aim of identifying the most effective and sustainable production methods, such as using Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA), while also ensuring consumer acceptability and tailoring to the distinct features of each protein source.

Our main tasks

• Creating of the IMPROVE platform and dietary data hub sharing
• Desing of a European Open Science Cloud integration
• Planning, monitoring, and execution of the environmental, health, and safety Risk Assessment and Techno-Economic Analysis

Partners

AGRICLIMA CONSULTING | AQUABIOTECH GROUP | CARTIF | CENTRALESUPÉLEC | CNR | CONSORZIO IN.BIO | CYPRUS CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION | DTU | ENEA | GOLEM | GRANT GARANT | IDENER.AI | IMC.SK | NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS | NORDIC DIASPORA FORUM | UNIVERSITY OF HOHENHEIM | UNIVERSITY OF MINHO | UNIVERSITY OF WEST ATTICA | VENUSROSES LABSOLUTIONS

Start date – finish date

01 / 2025 - 12 / 2027