This work package will create approximately 8,000 life cycle inventory datasets across European countries, enabling accurate environmental impact calculations for at least 80% of consumed food products. The FOODTURE team will develop a robust framework for a comprehensive food product database that captures all stages from farm to fork. Extensive consultation with value chain stakeholders will ensure completeness. The database will align with European policies and PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) methodology while documenting both common production methods and innovative green food chains to identify key environmental impact reduction opportunities.
Main results:
- A harmonized Life Cycle Inventory
- Comprehensive data on EU food systems
- FOODTURE version of Means InOut software for eco-design
Lead by: The French Agency for Ecological Transition
This work package will explore innovative technologies to improve impact characterization within the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework. The FOODTURE team will utilize these technologies as high-quality input data for existing frameworks. New generation satellites with high temporal and spatial resolution will facilitate field-specific inventories of land use, land use intensity, and erosion risk. The team will investigate remote sensing methodologies, including the fusion of satellite and UAV data, to better assess biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Additionally, the WP will explore other sensor technologies, such as integrating sniffer sensors on drones, to enhance the assessment of gas emissions and air pollution from agricultural activities in LCA frameworks. Once developed, these methodologies will be directly incorporated into existing frameworks.
Main results:
- Land use intensity datasets
- Erosion risk map
Lead by: University of Gent
This work package will develop, update, and harmonize relevant life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods to best address food production and consumption LCAs. The FOODTURE team will focus on the Area of Protection "Human Health," considering nutritional impacts and benefits as dominant factors influencing health. The WP will assess the health impacts of pesticides, including pesticide residues, when comparing organic versus conventional produce. The team will improve the assessment of spatialized pesticide impacts on freshwater ecosystems and incorporate terrestrial ecotoxicity, which is currently missing in LCIA. All impacts will be developed at both midpoint and endpoint impact categories, ensuring compatibility in terms of time horizons and reference states. These developments will form the basis for optimizing and selecting healthy and sustainable food baskets.
Main results:
- Comprehensive assessment of how different food baskets impact human health
- Detailed quantification of human health impacts from pesticides and overall food production
- Enhanced methodology to evaluate pesticide impacts on freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems
Lead by: Technical University of Denmark
This work package will develop, update, and harmonize relevant life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods for environmental and climate impacts related to biodiversity. The FOODTURE team will focus on assessing biodiversity impacts from water, air, and soil pollution or use.
Main results:
- Aggregation of biodiversity impacts
- Assessment framework for evaluating the impacts of food production on biodiversity
Lead by: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
This work package will develop a robust methodology to estimate the environmental impacts of food products. The FOODTURE team will validate this methodology, along with developments from other work packages, through case studies in four target sectors: crop production (domestic and imported), poultry, aquaculture, and complex multi-ingredient food products. These studies will include various production systems (conventional, organic, etc.). The team will perform system evaluations to identify hotspots and opportunities for eco-innovations. Data and lessons learned from these case studies will inform recommendations and scenarios for pollution reduction across the agricultural and food value chain.
Main results:
- Indicator mapping system for environmental impact assessment
- Enhanced Product Environmental Footprint (PEF+) methodology for food systems analysis
- Quantitative assessment of environmental impacts from various food baskets and dietary patterns
- Case studies demonstrating methodology application across key food sectors
Lead by: Beta Tech Center
This work package will analyze the environmental impacts of food systems. The FOODTURE team will map food systems from a life cycle perspective and adapt the food system model for multi-level assessments. This WP will integrate improved life cycle inventories and impact assessments from previous work packages into a comprehensive food system model. The team will specify food baskets for selected regions and model trade-offs and synergies between different environmental, social, economic, animal welfare, and human health impacts of food systems.
Main results:
- System analysis framework with identified trade-offs across environmental and socioeconomic dimensions
- Detailed characterization of European regional food baskets and their varying environmental footprints
- Predictive modeling tool evaluating the impact potential of innovative food system solutions
- Multi-criteria assessment methodology that holistically captures diverse food system impacts
Lead by: The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture
This work package focuses on transforming research outputs into practical, usable results through policy engagement and stakeholder-driven knowledge transfer. It builds on EU principles of transparency, open access, and knowledge exploitation to ensure that FOODTURE’s findings are widely disseminated and meaningfully applied. The activities include identifying stakeholder needs, developing policy recommendations, organizing participatory workshops, and producing targeted summaries and practice-oriented materials.
Main results:
- Assessment of stakeholders needs to guide the uptake of project outcomes and inform policy development
- A series of co-creation and validation workshops bringing together key actors from across the food value chain
- Policy briefs and recommendations supporting inclusive and evidence-based policy frameworks for food systems
- Practice abstracts developed in line with the EIP-AGRI format, offering practical insights for end users and practitioners
- Enhanced awareness among European institutions and networks regarding the role of participatory policy development in sustainable food system transformation
Lead by: General Confederation of Italian Agriculture
This work package is dedicated to ensuring the visibility, uptake, and long-term value of FOODTURE’s results. Through a structured communication, dissemination, and exploitation strategy, it aims to maximize the project’s reach and impact across all key stakeholder groups. Activities include the development of a PDEC (Plan for Dissemination and Exploitation including Communication), proactive engagement through both digital and in-person channels, and targeted content tailored to the needs of different audiences. In addition, this WP promotes cross-project collaboration and knowledge exchange through the creation of a learning academy.
Main results:
- Strategic plan for communication, dissemination, and exploitation
- Environmental impact calculator to support awareness and understanding among non-expert audiences
- A long-term sustainability and exploitation roadmap to ensure the continued use of FOODTURE’s tools and results beyond the project’s duration
- Broad visibility of the project across digital platforms, events, and partner networks, reaching key actors across the food system
- A collaborative learning academy for capacity building, knowledge sharing, and integration of FOODTURE outputs into real-world contexts
Lead by: The Association of Balkan Eco-Innovation
This work package ensures the effective coordination, administration, and quality assurance of the entire FOODTURE project. It supports the timely delivery of outputs, alignment with Horizon Europe requirements, and smooth collaboration across all partners. Core responsibilities include financial and administrative management, risk mitigation, ethical oversight, and data governance. By maintaining clear procedures and strong internal communication, this WP ensures that the project progresses according to the Grant Agreement and delivers high-quality, impactful results.
Main results:
- Quality management plan that defines internal procedures, responsibilities, and monitoring systems to ensure smooth project execution
- An ethics plan outlining measures for safeguarding compliance with ethical standards and regulatory requirements across all research activities
- A data management plan detailing how project data will be collected, stored, shared, and preserved in accordance with FAIR principles and Horizon Europe guidelines
Lead by: Beta Tech Center