Innovative, locally-driven, multi-actor Organic Food Labs

Objective

InnOFoodLabs will advance 23 innovations in organic food value chains through 12 Living Labs across 9 European countries and a Community of Practice. By improving organic food processing and distribution, the project aims to transform organic value chains into pillars of local economies. The innovations focus on small-scale food processing, sustainable packaging, farmer-processor connections, and innovative supply and distribution models. Innovation roadmaps will be crafted, outlining activities, targets, and responsibilities, with progress documented in “innovation diaries”. The Community of Practice will facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building via peer-to-peer exchanges, training, and study visits, operating both nationally and internationally. Sustainability impact assessments will be conducted on selected innovations through tailored assessment frameworks developed by Living Lab members, drawing on established sustainability tools and life cycle assessment. The project will also explore stakeholder attitudes, consumer acceptance, and develop tailormade business models. These efforts will culminate in scaling-out of selected innovations, facilitating their adoption in other regions and settings. Finally, the project’s findings will inform policy recommendations, addressing specific regulations as well as broader support policies. In line with the Farm-to-Fork strategy and the EU Organic Action Plan, the project contributes to the target to achieve a 25% organic farmland share by 2030, recognizing that growth in organic farmland requires parallel increase in consumption and market opportunities for organic farmers. The project will facilitate the shift towards more inclusive food systems, contributing to local innovation and responsible consumption. InnOFoodLabs is a transdisciplinary multi-actor project that engages all relevant stakeholders in the value chain, from farmers, processors, retailers, up to consumers as well as researchers and advisers.