Networking for excellence in the development of innovative, consumer-oriented horticultural food products using the Living Lab approach

HORTIFOODTRENDS is a project under which Instytut Ogrodnictwa – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy (InHort) will establish and implement into its practice a long-lasting, interdisciplinary collaboration network with high profile European partners: Københavns Universitet (UCPH), Association Groupe ESA (GROUPE ESA) and Centre de recherche de l'Institut Lyfe (LYFE), in the field of novel food product development, considering the needs of the end-user (consumers and food processing sector), with an approach defined as the Living Lab formula.

In accordance with the InHort competence, traditionally strongly linked with horticultural producers and the postharvest management of horticultural commodities, the project effort will focus on creating health-promoting novel foods by using emerging processing techniques dedicated to fruit and vegetable preservation.

Obtaining appropriate competences to carry out work in the consumer-oriented formula, and in particular using the Living Lab approach, will provide InHort with a unique tool to enhance the knowledge transfer into the agri-food sector.

Cooperation of food technologists (technological knowledge aimed at maintaining the health-promoting properties of processed raw materials) with specialists in the field of consumer sciences (knowledge of communicating with consumers) contrasting with consumers’ needs and preferences as well as market and economic conditions articulated by entrepreneurs (work in the Living Lab formula ), is expected to substantially increase the likelihood of delivering innovative nutritionally and sensory valuable products to the HortiFood market.

Thus, a conscious consumer, in line with the idea of the EU strategy ""From farm to Fork"", will have better access to high-quality food products produced using current, environmentally friendly modern processing technologies.

Besides, within HORTIFOODTRENDS activity strengthening research management capacities and administrative skills are foreseen.