TITAN Special Session at EFFoST2024 conference

At the EFFoST2024 Conference on 12-14 November 2024, the TITAN project organised a special session that highlighted the latest advancements in food system transparency. The session, titled “Enabling Transparency in Food Supply Chains via Implementation of Digital Technologies to Boost Health, Sustainability, and Safety of Products, Processes, and Diets”, brought together industry leaders and academic experts to discuss innovative solutions for improving traceability and sustainability across the agri-food sector.

Chaired by the project coordinator, Isabelle Guelinckx of the International Life Science Institute (ILSI) Europe, the session provided five presentations addressing critical issues and showcasing solutions under the TITAN project:

1. TITAN Transparency Solutions for Transforming the Food System
   Dr. Guelinckx opened the session with an overview of TITAN’s vision to enhance food safety, consumer trust, and sustainability through transparency-driven innovations.
2. Ensuring Olive Oil Authenticity with SNP Genotyping
   Dr. Marta Prado (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain) detailed a strategy to authenticate olive oil varieties using DNA-based SNP genotyping and microfluidic devices, ensuring traceability throughout the olive oil value chain.
3. Innovating for Sustainable Food Chains with Digital Tools
   Edward Sliwinski, Ph.D. (EFFoST, Netherlands), discussed how digital platforms can enable end-to-end supply chain transparency, reduce waste, and foster sustainability while addressing key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges.
4. AI-Powered Tool to Improve Eating Habits of Children and Families
   Dr. Ana Baranda (AZTI, Spain) showcased a co-created, interactive platform using artificial intelligence to educate children and families about healthy eating habits, with gamification features already receiving positive feedback in pilot schools.
5. The Sus-Health Index: Combining Health and Sustainability Metrics
   Dr. Joe Livingstone (Queens University Belfast, UK) introduced the Sus-Health Index, a novel metric combining nutritional and environmental values to guide healthier and more sustainable food choices, tested successfully in a Belfast restaurant.

The session emphasized TITAN’s comprehensive approach to advancing food system transparency, with 23 innovations covering areas such as digital traceability, sustainability metrics, and food authenticity. By addressing critical gaps in supply chain visibility and engaging stakeholders across sectors, TITAN aims to transform the agri-food industry in alignment with the European Green Deal’s sustainability goals.

The special session at EFFoST 2024 underscored the growing importance of digital technologies in creating sustainable, safe, and transparent food systems for the future.