Challenge
The THEROS project aims to implement an integrated toolbox capable of modernising the process of verifying organic and geographical indications of food products and preventing adulterations and non-compliances. It also aims to demonstrate enhanced traceability, security and transparency in the supply chain, through the use of various technologies and innovations that leverage Earth Observation, photonics, internet of things (IoT), DNA metabarcoding, blockchain, digital interfaces and product passport, advance analytics, AI/ML, and business models. At the same time, efficient mechanisms will be employed in order to ensure interoperability with existing control systems, as well as improved accessibility and sharing of data, through harmonized and standardized means, whilst demonstrating their uptake by relevant stakeholders for improved decision-making.
The THEROS toolbox components will be extensively evaluated in real life through four pilot demonstrations in four different countries, covering diverse requirements, involvement of all relevant actors, different organic/ geographical indication food products and fraud/adulteration cases.
Project Objectives
Improve detection of adulterations and non-compliances in the organic and geographic indications food products, including efficient monitoring of quality and sustainability parameters through low-cost, digital & scalable solutions.
Enhance traceability in the quality labelled food supply chain via novel technologies and approaches that will ensure secure and transparent data governance across the whole value chain.
Ensure efficient management and harmonisation of data collected from the different stages of the supply chain, enable their uptake for improved decision making and assure interoperability and integration with existing systems.
Assess and formulate new business-oriented models and approaches towards preventing quality labelled food adulteration as well as increasing awareness and quality assurance.
Validate and demonstrate the effectiveness of the THEROS integrated toolbox through four validation campaigns that will pave the way for rapid uptake of the proposed systemic innovations.
Role in the Project
eBOS will design, develop and integrate the graphical Human Machine Interface (HMI) of THEROS toolbox. The HMI will allow the efficient monitoring of activities taking place in the organic and geographic indications supply chain for improved decision-making by policymakers and supply chain actors.
Furthermore, eBOS will implement artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques for verifying the origin and quality of food products based on their DNA footprint.
eBOS will also act as the project’s Quality Assurance and Risk Manager, implementing quality assurance procedures and ensuring that proactive measures are taken to mitigate risks.
Finally, eBOS will also lead the project’s exploitation activities by developing the market-entry preparation plans and the post-project sustainability strategy. Tailored business model(s) will also be developed, aiming to carry forward the commercialisation of the Key Exploitable Results and their market entry.
Consortium
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
