Unlocking Climate-Resilient, Nutrient-Rich Crops for Sustainable Food Systems and Public Health

Background and Rationale

Climate change, biodiversity loss and the growing burden of diet-related chronic diseases are exerting increasing pressure on European agri-food systems. Current production models, heavily dependent on a limited number of crops and high external inputs, expose farmers, consumers and ecosystems to systemic risks. At the same time, a range of nutrient-dense crops with proven resilience to climatic stressors remain largely under-utilised in European farming and food markets. Aronia berries constitute a representative case, combining low input requirements, strong adaptability across agro-climatic conditions and a highly valuable phytochemical profile, yet remaining marginal in mainstream production and consumption patterns.

This project responds to this challenge by positioning climate-resilient crops as strategic assets for the transition towards diversified, sustainable and health-oriented food systems. The proposed action is fully aligned with Horizon Europe Cluster 6, in particular Destinations 2 and 3, while directly contributing to the Farm to Fork Strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

Overall Objective

The overall objective of the project is to establish science-based, scalable and replicable value chains that unlock the agronomic, nutritional and socio-economic value of climate-resilient, nutrient-rich crops. By integrating agricultural production, food innovation, health research and sustainability assessment, the project aims to enhance farm resilience, stimulate rural development, improve public health outcomes and reduce the environmental footprint of food systems.

Scientific and Innovation Approach

The project adopts a holistic innovation approach that activates all stages of the value chain. At the primary production level, it focuses on improving agronomic performance, yield stability and adaptive capacity of aronia and other selected resilient crops across diverse European agro-climatic zones. This work will generate evidence-based recommendations enabling farmers to integrate these crops into diversified, low-input and climate-smart farming systems.

At the processing and market level, the project translates agricultural biodiversity into tangible economic value by developing high-quality, market-ready natural beverages and related plant-based products. Optimised processing techniques will be applied to preserve bioactive compounds and ensure both nutritional quality and consumer acceptance.

In parallel, the project strengthens scientific credibility and consumer trust by generating robust evidence on health-promoting properties. Volunteer-based intervention studies, conducted under the supervision of the Department of Physiology of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, will provide scientifically sound data supporting the role of plant-based products in nutrition and disease prevention, in line with EU regulatory frameworks.

Finally, the project integrates environmental and socio-economic impact assessment, including life-cycle-based carbon footprint analysis and comparative evaluation against conventional pharmaceutical or supplement-based approaches. This integrated assessment will demonstrate the broader contribution of agrobiodiversity-based food systems to climate mitigation, sustainability and public health.

Consortium Vision and Added Value

The consortium is designed as a balanced partnership combining industrial and operational expertise with high-level scientific excellence. Bloom Aronia acts as a value-chain anchor, contributing practical experience in resilient crop cultivation, processing and market deployment. Research partners provide complementary expertise in agronomy, biodiversity, food science, nutrition, health and sustainability assessment, ensuring full coverage of the innovation pathway from research and field validation to product development and market readiness.

Partner Profiles and Expectations

The consortium is currently open to research organisations, universities, food and beverage companies, agricultural stakeholders, health research institutions and sustainability experts willing to actively contribute to proposal development and implementation. Partners are expected to demonstrate scientific or technological excellence in their respective fields, capacity for cross-sectoral collaboration and commitment to impact-oriented Horizon Europe projects. Active participation in work package definition, data generation and dissemination activities is considered essential.

Next Steps

Interested organisations are invited to express their interest and participate in the forthcoming consortium-building meeting, which will serve to align scientific contributions, define roles and co-create a competitive Horizon Europe Cluster 6 proposal capable of delivering measurable scientific, environmental and socio-economic impacts.