University of Latvia (ULAT)
Contributions in WP4
Contributing 7PM to:
T4.2: Exploring Solutions
Lead: NILUAB (11PM).
Effort by contributors: ULAT (7PM), HKR (6PM), ETHZ (2PM), CHALMERS (2PM), TETRA (1PM), SANTAMAR (1PM). Timing: M1-49. This Task consists of four case studies. Case study 1, on Sustainable spices (participants: SANTAMAR,) will assess the value chain of spices and estimate the environmental impact and improvement potential. Spices have been identified as the factor that can make European consumers accept novel foods. Therefore, in a system perspective it is of highly importance that the spices are produced in a lifecycle with minimum environmental impact. Firstly, identification of suitable spices for novel foods will take place together with industry. Then the system boundary of the study will be set as well as the functional unit. Data will be collected along the life cycle with site specific quality at the industry and at least country specific for the other parts of the life cycle. Several environmental impact categories will be assessed as for example climate impact, eutrophication, acidification, biodiversity and water usage. The improvement actions and potential challenges to decrease the environmental impact will be identified and assessed. Case study 1, on the Footprint of Seaweed (participants: ULAT) will assess the European seaweed value chain and estimate the potential environmental benefits from the implementation of seaweed in the food system. A systematic analysis of scientific literature, reports, and databases will be conducted to collect data on seaweed cultivation, nutritional value, processing technologies, and environmental impacts. Information will be scrutinised to estimate the potential environmental impact reduction achievable through seaweed implementation in the food system. Consultations and interviews with industry experts, stakeholders, potential end-users, and researchers will be undertaken to obtain valuable insights into seaweed cultivation and food innovation. The feasibility of integrating seaweed into the food chain will be assessed, taking into account factors such as scalability, sustainability, and economic viability. Case study 3, on the Footprint of Insect Meal for Human and Pet Food (Lead: HKR, participants: NILU AB, TETRAPAK) aims to develop tasty and sustainable food products based on insects. In parallel also pet food will be developed. One option in the transformation to a future sustainable food system is to use insects as food. Insects contain proteins with all essential amino acids and may be compared to beef or fish. Further, insects also contain poly-unsaturated and essential fatty acids. In comparison to both beef and fish the climate impact of rearing insects is low, and the production of protein is far more effective. The fulfilment of the aim is done by following actions: Development of recipes based on insects for both human and animal (pets) consumption. There will be a minimum of four varieties of the food where meat will be replaced by different amounts of insects, from 0% to 100% replacement. Both products, intended for humans and pets, are wet foods meant for shelf stable distribution. The products will be packaged and subjected for retort processing. For human food samples sensory profiles and consumer acceptance will be performed. For pet food samples acceptance tests will be performed in a test with pets. Calculations of nutritional value and climate impact. Strategies for increasing the acceptance of foods for humans and pets based on insects will be developed. Case study 4, on the Footprint of Cellular Agriculture (participant: CHALMERS) will assess the sustainability improvement potential as well as improve the existing LCA data of cellular agriculture. This is achieved by performing an inventory of the published LCA studies on cultivated meat and seafood. Assessing the future potential volume of production of cultivated meat in the EU. How much current meat consumption can we realistically replace with cultivated meat in the EU, and what would be the gain in reduction of the EU's environmental impact? Contributes to:
D4.2 (M24).
This task is linked to the following milestones: MS4.1 (M30).
Contributing 2PM to:
T4.1: Case study preparation and coordination
Lead: NILUAB (5PM).
Effort by contributors: NILU (3PM), ULAT (2PM), UOXF (1PM), HKR (1PM). Timing: M1-49. This task will set the frames and the boundaries for the case studies in order to get credible pathways to reduce pollution from food production. This will be fulfilled by workshops and dialogs among the task leaders of the WP. This task also includes the coordination of the WP. Contributes to:
D4.1 (M12).
Contributing 2PM to:
T4.5: Quantify the opportunity for gains from novel food solutions
Lead: NILUAB (11PM).
Effort by contributors: NILU (4PM), UOY (2PM), ULAT (2PM), BUW (2PM), ZHAW (2PM), ULEI (1PM), UOXF (1PM), HKR (1PM), TETRA (1PM). Timing: M1-49. This task will make concluding quantified assessment of credible pathways to reduce pollution from food production based on the case studies. Information of the food system interventions, their impacts and reduction potential across multiple environmental impacts will be described based on the result of task 4.2-3. The barriers and enabling factors will be identified and related to interventions which weaken and strengthen the impact reduction potential of good practices. The result will be used as an input to Task 3.6 where the consumption data for each European country will be added in order to expand the system result from individual food items to country level. Contributes to:
D4.5 (M44).
Contributions in WP6
Contributing 1PM to:
T6.1: Management of financial legal and administrative requirements
Lead: NILU (9PM).
Effort by contributors: NILUAB (2PM), UOY (2PM), ETHZ (1PM), GLOBE (1PM), SEI (1PM), UOXF (1PM), ARBO (1PM), COOL (1PM), CLIMCO (1PM), ULAT (1PM), BUW (1PM), DDS (1PM), ZHAW (1PM), ULEI (0.5PM), INTEC (0.5PM). Timing: M1-49. In this task we will manage and coordinate all financial and administrative activities in the project, including monitoring and maintaining the overall adherence to the financial budgets. T1.1 will deliver a project toolbox to ensure a smooth communication and cooperation between the project partners. This task will forward the EU contribution according to the work plan, the Consortium Agreement and the decisions made by the consortium. The administrative and financial monitoring of the project will be done by the project coordinator in cooperation with the Project Management Board (coordinator and WP leaders).