The Month 36 review meeting for the BioValue project brought together our consortium and the experts from the EC to evaluate progress, exchange ideas, and plan for the future. Guided by the expertise of the EC representatives the meeting highlighted BioValue’s success in promoting biodiversity and sustainability in the agri-food value chain.
Key Highlights:
- Progress Across Work Packages:
- The innovative BIOVALUE tool for simulating agri-food systems was demonstrated live, showcasing its user-friendly design and robust capabilities. Suggestions to improve user experience and incorporate more biodiversity data were discussed.
- Research on novel food products and consumer preferences opened new possibilities for enhancing biodiversity in everyday diets. Expanding these studies to more countries and engaging nutrition experts were recommended.
- Biodiversity and Climate Change:
- Presentations from WP6 highlighted the role of underutilized crops in diverse ecosystems and climate resilience. Discussions focused on expanding pilot sites and integrating this research into future policies.
- Sustainable Farming and Certification:
- Insights into sustainable farming practices and their integration into the BIOVALUE tool were shared. Reviewers stressed the importance of policy incentives to support farmers adopting these practices.
- Product certification and labelling initiatives were explored, with discussions about balancing effective communication and avoiding over-labelling.
The reviewers commended the project’s progress and recognized its potential to influence future policies and practices. The meeting concluded with actionable next steps and a shared commitment to advancing BioValue’s goals.
Stay tuned as we continue to drive innovation for biodiversity and sustainability in the agri-food sector!