The Kick-off conference of the project ”Supporting Agri-food communities and networks in SEE through developing services on digital food quality and traceability using blockchain”, funded by SmartAgriHubs through Horizon 2020, was held in the hybrid format on June 8th 2022. Some of the visitors, along with the project partners, attended the event at the premises of TERA TEHNOPOLIS d.o.o., while the rest followed the conference virtually through the https://f2f.dih.green/ platform. In total, the event was attended by about 60 participants interested in technological innovations in the agri-food sector.
The conference was opened by the director of TERA TEHNOPOLIS d.o.o., Ana Šarić, who greeted the attendees and briefly introduced the project partners: Green Digital Innovation HUB (Green eDIH)- Romania, Hadas Bar– Israel, Smart Village– Bosnia & Herzegovina and DIH Tera, Competence Centre and CUSPIS – Croatia. The representatives of each partner presented their organisations and role in the project.
The project coordinator Iulian Stoleriu (Green eDIH), along with Vinko Kojundžić (CUSPIS), explained to the audience the importance of food traceability to reduce contamination and risk of disease and the importance of identifying problems before the product reaches the final consumer. At the same time, they presented the issue that will be addressed during the project. After that, they explained the project’s aim: the increase in the participation of Digital Innovation Centers (DIH) of South East-Europe in the digital transformation of the agri-food sector, with an emphasis on food traceability through blockchain technologies. The project will solve the problem of food traceability using blockchain technology through the following services:
- Complement initial scouting and ecosystem analysis
- Development of the Agro-digitalisation Roadmap using blockchain technologies and Proof of Concept
- Brokerage, education and knowledge-sharing activities
- Promotion and Dissemination of project results
- Lab facilities and support for innovative business models.
The consortium partners have selected specific products to focus on during the project: eggs, black Slavonian pigs, apples, wine and avocados. For one selected product per partner, all the elements of the technology plan will be implemented, which will show feasibility and benefits for each stakeholder. Through the project, the partners will be provided with new digital services, which they will later transfer to their stakeholders, and they will be able to use all the newly acquired knowledge in their further activities.
The backbone of the project, i.e., the blockchain technology, was presented to the audience by the founder of CUSPIS d.o.o., Vinko Kojundžić. He presented the development of blockchain technology and its importance for the agri-food sector, more specifically for producers and consumers. The presentation concluded that by developing the right tool, information could be gathered throughout the supply chain and presented in a simple way to the end customer, who will be able to see the history of each food product.
The conference was concluded by open discussion, where all participants had the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about specific problems and opportunities. After the official part of the conference, the project partners held a consortium meeting to discuss the next steps and tasks of the project.
The project is being implemented in the period from May to September 2022 and is aimed at food processors, consumers, legislative and local authorities and representatives of consumer protection associations. We hereby invite everyone interested in more information and participation in the project to contact us.
WEB: www.cekom.hr
E-MAIL: cekom@cekom.hr
TEL: 032/200-867
About SmartAgriHubs:
SmartAgriHubs is a project funded by the European Union through the Horizon 2020 funding instrument that brings together a consortium of over 164 partners in the European agri-food sector. SmartAgriHub aims to digitize European agriculture by promoting an agricultural innovation ecosystem dedicated to excellence, sustainability, and success. The SmartAgriHubs project serves as a catalyst for innovation in smart farming. By embracing and promoting European innovation in agriculture and IT, SmartAgriHubs is expanding digital solutions in the agri-food sector and helping farmers and their businesses achieve actual and achievable results.
About Competence Centre:
Vision: Promote and support bioeconomy – smart and sustainable use of natural resources.
Mission: Strengthen innovation potential for an advanced, competitive and climate-neutral economy.
