The DEFENSEFOOD initiative is dedicated to strengthening the resilience of the EU food system against chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) threats. The primary focus areas include:
Anticipating
emerging risks
through horizon scanning and predictive tools.
Advancing rapid detection and confirmation methods
for CBR hazards.
Developing preparedness, mitigation, and recovery strategies
for authorities and industry.
Strengthening multi-stakeholder capacity
through training and simulation exercises.
Furthermore, the project supports knowledge sharing and evidence-based decision-making through analytical tools, a Food Threat Management Blueprint, and structured collaboration between research, industry, and public authorities.
The project’s main objectives are structured around six points:
1
Adapt and develop a novel, AI-driven, evidence-based scanning dashboard to anticipate changes in the food system environment
1
Develop rapid detection methods, integrating novel targeted and untargeted analysis tools and leveraging monitoring systems
1
Identify, develop, and test methodologies for reducing the impact of CBR threats on the food supply chain
1
Optimise coordination among EU and international security authorities, improving cross-border response mechanisms
1
Create knowledge management and decision-support tools to enable early detection, impact reduction and fast recovery of the supply chain from food contamination crises.
1
Improve awareness and preparedness of food system actors (mainly authorities and SMEs) to CBR threats
DEFENSEFOOD employs a multi-disciplinary research methodology to address the complex challenges of CBR threats in food systems.
Ηοw we will achieve our goals
The project will establish resilience across the food chain by leveraging predictive and simulation models, state-of-the-art detection technologies, effective response and recovery protocols, social science methodologies, knowledge management, and multi-stakeholder capacity building.
