BIOVALUE has produced high-resolution climate projections for European pilot sites, revealing region-specific trends in temperature and precipitation patterns. These projections, extending to 2050, indicate varying degrees of warming and changes in rainfall across different regions, highlighting the need for localized adaptation strategies. The project has also identified several underutilized crops with significant potential for climate resilience and nutritional value, such as buckwheat, grass pea, and specific varieties of lentils and tomatoes.

Practitioners and end-users should give special attention to the following key findings and recommendations identified, which include:

1. Climate-adaptive breeding: Utilize advanced techniques like marker-assisted selection and participatory plant breeding to develop climate-resilient crop varieties.
2. Crop diversification: Integrate underutilized crops into existing farming systems to enhance biodiversity and reduce vulnerability to climate extremes.
3. Localized strategies: Tailor agricultural practices to regional climate projections, focusing on water management and heat stress mitigation.
4. Genetic resource conservation: Prioritize the preservation and study of diverse plant genetic resources as a foundation for future breeding efforts.
5. Policy support: Develop policies incentivizing underutilized crops’ cultivation and market integration.
6. Research investment: Increase funding for research on underutilized crops to close the knowledge gap with major staples.
7. Consumer awareness: Educate consumers about underutilized crops’ nutritional and environmental benefits to stimulate market demand.

By implementing these findings, stakeholders can contribute to a more diverse, resilient, and sustainable agricultural system capable of adapting to climate change while preserving biodiversity and ensuring food security

• Advancing Climate-Resilient Agriculture through Underutilized Crops

BIOVALUE Data Warehouse module

In BioValue, we're developing a tool to help introduce underutilized crops into the food supply chain. We're using a modeling approach that looks at how different players interact in the agricultural system. We're considering factors like climate and water availability and aiming to encourage biodiversity by involving market and social influences. 

Within this attempt, the creation of a data warehouse can be very valuable. In particular a darawarehouse helps in: 

1. Collecting and Organizing Information: The agents might need information, like weather data or historical facts, to make decisions. A data warehouse collects and organizes all this information in one place.
2. Setting Rules for Agents: The agents have rules they follow, like "if it's raining, go inside." These rules often depend on data. The data warehouse helps us store these rules and change them easily.
3. Making Sure Everything Fits Reality: We want our model to be as close to reality as possible. The data warehouse stores real-world data that we can use to check if the model behaves realistically.
4. Helping Agents Make Decisions: When the agents need to decide what to do, they can use data from the warehouse. For example, if they would be cars, they can check traffic data to decide the best route.
5. Trying Different Scenarios: We can use the data warehouse to test different situations, like "What happens if it's really sunny?". This helps us to understand how different conditions affect the model.
6. Seeing What Happened: After using our model, we can look at the data in the warehouse to see what happened.

• BIOVALUE Data Warehouse module

Developing a conceptual framework for the analysis of value chains and their effect on biodiversity 

In this practice abstract we present our approach to better understand the agri-food value chains and their link with biodiversity. Our methodology is based on a qualitative value chain analysis combining data collection and interviews with experts. This helps us to draw up a portrait of the different value chains by identifying the actors, the links and flows that connect them as well as their behaviour, and to identify the obstacles to biodiversity. 

The proposed methodology can be adopted from value chain actors and stakeholders, and, properly adjusted, it can be implemented in a variety of value chains.

Within BioValue this methodology will be applied to 12 different value chains (in France, Germany, Italy and Norway) in order to retrieve useful data related to agro-biodiversity. In particular, the methodology applied is based on several steps:

1. Bibliographical research to collect information on the value chain and identify experts.
2. Interviews with these experts in order to validate and complete the collected information.
3. Data classification by classifing the collected data in relation to the different actors by:

• Completing the analysis chapter describing the different groups of actors in the value chain and describe the different links between them, highlighting the barriers and levers related to biodiversity
• Creating visual representations of the value chain structure ensuring a clear legend for easy interpretation

4. Holistic analysis of the value chain, emphasizing the roles of individual actors. This analysis leads up to the development of a comprehensive map illustrating the value chain dynamics.

• Conceptual framework for the analysis of value chains and their effect on biodi…

To optimize agro-food value chains a set of actionable strategies are offered for farmers, consumers, and the entire value chain. 

For Farmers:

• Boosting Underutilized Crops: Back local seeds with subsidies, reducing costs and elevating income.
• Sustainable Farming Skills: Train in organic practices and modern tech for resource stewardship.
• Tech Adoption: Support irrigation and soil tech for efficient growth.
• Biodiversity Labels: Certify underutilized crops, informing choices and supporting diversity.
• Enhancing Soil Health: Prioritize fertilization and eco-friendly protection.
• Seed Networks: Foster local seed events for diverse cultivation.

For Consumers:

• Nutrition Awareness: Highlight underutilized foods’ benefits for healthier diets.
• Mindful Consumption: Promote sustainability through diet changes.
• Culinary Exploration: Educate on underutilized foods’ culinary uses.
• Youth-Centric Nutrition: Instill healthy eating habits in youth.
• Sustainable Education: Embed eco-friendly principles in youth learning.
• Informed Choices: Provide environmental impact data for conscious consumption.
• Green Incentives: Raise taxes on ecologically harmful products.

For the Entire Value Chain:

• Localized Supply Chains: Foster local collaborations for quality and growth.
• Labeling Boost: Strengthen labels for local and underutilized products.

Market and Practical Insights:

• Farmer Markets: Create markets connecting producers and consumers.
• Digital Platforms: Develop online platforms for accessible markets.
• Sustainability Incentives: Link incentives to sustainable practices.
• School Initiatives: Implement sustainable food policies in schools.

• Elevating Agro-Food Value Chains for Sustainable Gains

Enhancing Agricultural Value Chains through Agent-Based Modelling

Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) tools have the power to revolutionize agriculture. This approach provides valuable insights that can improve how farmers and end-users operate on a daily basis. ABM's influence on value chains can offer crucial recommendations for policy and market changes, leading to shifts in practices and development processes. 

• Data and Interaction: ABM relies on data from various sources throughout the value chain. To make this work, it's important to standardize data formats and streamline interactions, possibly through ontologies.
• Market-Centric Approach: In BIOVALUE's framework, we consider both value chains and markets. Markets have a big impact on how agents behave. ABM incorporates demand-related factors to make market recommendations, which in turn influence the decisions of everyone in the value chain.
• Practical Benefits Unleashed: ABM’s results empower stakeholders. It guides choices, determining the feasibility of new products and understanding how policies affect markets.
• Entrepreneurial Edge: This approach leads to cost-effectiveness, productivity, and informed choices, underlining practical relevance and profit potential.

Hence, ABM’s value chain applications provide practitioners with a toolkit for modern agriculture since it bridges capability and real-world impact, boosting agriculture, profits, and sustainability.

• Enhancing Agricultural Value Chains through Agent-Based Modelling

Enhancing Nutrition and Well-being through Underutilized Crops 

Underutilized crops hold significant promise in pursuing a sustainable food system. Below are key recommendations to overcome nutrition and dietary challenges by using underutilized plants.These practices can transform underutilized crops from overlooked resources into nutritional powerhouses. By fostering collaboration, awareness, and policy changes, these practices empower practitioners and pave the way for a sustainable food landscape.

The main practical recommendations are:

•             Nutrition Insight: Know local cultivars, and leverage traditional foods for diverse nutrition.

•             Research Thrust: Probe health benefits of underutilized crops, fueling global nutrition.

•             Benefits Showcasing: Spotlight crop value nationally, regionally, and globally.

•             Stakeholder Strengthening: Capacitate nutrition allies for effective action.

•             Awareness Amplification: Elevate crop value awareness across stakeholders.

•             Wisdom Fusion: Blend science and tradition for broad impact.

•             Interdisciplinary Bonds: Unite health, agronomy, and sociology for holistic solutions.

•             Market Nexus: Link farmers, chefs, and retailers for seamless production to promotion.

•             Info Drive: Media campaigns for fact-based crop appreciation.

•             Culinary Revamp: Innovate dishes, and diversify diets for enriched experiences.

•             Perception Shift: Educate against biases, and celebrate crop diversity.

•             Cultivation Promotion: Popularize underutilized crops for robust yields.

•             Policy Advocacy: Showcase crop impact to influence decision-makers.

•             Equity Focus: Combat neglect and advocate equal treatment for crops.

•             National Nutrition Policies: Develop inclusive policies, and drive local-global collaboration.

• Enhancing Nutrition and Well-being through Underutilized Crops

The public Deliverable 7.3 of the BIOVALUE project assessed the environmental performance of underutilized crops (buckwheat, lathyrus, eggplant, sonchus, lentil, tomato, cucumber) across European pilot farms using an adjusted Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Key findings show significant variations in energy inputs, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and carbon footprints. For instance, Turkish buckwheat farms used lower energy inputs, while German lathyrus farms achieved higher energy efficiency. Greenhouse cultivation, especially for eggplant and cucumber, often reduced environmental impact compared to open-field systems, though fertilizer and fuel use were major contributors to emissions across all crops.

Practical Recommendations:

Farmers can optimize sustainability by selecting crops suited to local agroecological conditions, reducing fertilizer and fuel use, and adopting greenhouse systems where feasible. For example, greenhouse eggplant cultivation in Germany showed lower energy inputs and carbon footprints. Implementing these practices can reduce costs, increase yields, and minimize environmental impact. Certification of lower carbon footprints can also open new markets, boosting profitability for farmers

• Environmental Impact Assessment of Underutilized Crops

The BIOVALUE project developed practical tools to help farmers bring biodiversity-friendly products to the market while creating new income opportunities. Two certification options were designed: the BIOVALUE Inclusive & Participatory Label, a low-cost, community-driven guarantee system ideal for smallholders selling locally, and the BIOVALUE Organic+ Label, a third-party certification that builds on existing organic standards with added biodiversity criteria. Both labels signal to consumers that products contribute to biodiversity, opening access to niche markets and allowing producers to differentiate their products.

Alongside certification, traceability protocols ensure transparency from field to fork, strengthening consumer trust and enabling farmers to prove the added value of their products. Combined with the development of new food products (such as buckwheat pasta, lentil brownies, or eggplant-based snacks), these tools create market pull for underutilized crops.

From a practical perspective, diversifying with these crops can reduce input costs (by using less water and fertilizer). Additionally, it enhances soil fertility through improved crop rotations and increases resilience to climate change. From a social perspective, farmers offering these crops will meet the growing demand of consumers for sustainable and healthy foods. Therefore, BIOVALUE offers farmers clear pathways to enhance profitability while improving biodiversity and farm resilience.

• Farming Biodiversity for Profit and Resilience

Improving Agri-Food Value Chains via Agent-Based Modelling Tools

In today’s ever-evolving agri-food landscape, farmers and end-users need to adopt practices that maximize productivity, sustainability, and overall well-being. This practice abstract highlights the transformative potential of ABM tools. Farmers and consumers can adopt these recommendations to embrace sustainable, profitable, and nutritionally rich agri-food practices.

Main Results/Outcomes:

• Educated consumers make informed choices.
• Enhanced crop traits for increased productivity.
• Safer food chains through the elimination of toxins and allergens.
• Improved seed availability through local actors or government support.

Practical Recommendations and Added Value:

Implementing the generated knowledge brings significant benefits:

• Safer foods inspire consumer confidence.
• Green taxes promote eco-friendly options.
• Optimize crop yields with beneficial traits.
• Farmer support enhances seed availability.
• Certification empowers informed decisions.
• Access to high-quality seeds boosts harvests.
• Nutrition education drives sustainable choices.
• Plant-based diets reduce environmental impact.
• Food systems approach aligns policy with goals.
• Novel food recipes encourage crop diversification.

Below is a guide for using the website https://biovalue-forum.com/

Access: Visit https://biovalue-forum.com/ and familiarize yourself with the site.

Registration: The registration process is simple: click the register button on the right sidebar of the site, enter a unique username, a valid email address, a password and fill in your profile details. In your profile details, indicate your name and surname, the value chain you represent and your country. In the next stage agree to the terms and conditions of the site. You will receive a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your account and then you will be able to log in. 

Interact: After logging in you can enter the Forum, view your desired sections, participate in polls and write comments on a topic of interest to you. In the Forum you can also view recent activities and take position in the latest discussed topics. A number of pre-identified topics have been added to the site where you can select the one that will be most useful for your research. 

Customize your profile: Each registered member on the site has a personal profile from which it is possible to view your activities on the Forum, view notifications, send messages to other participants and use many other functions. From the profile section you can change your profile data, add a picture and cover photo and change your password.

Watch our easy tutorial under: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG6E1vp_9HE&ab_channel=BioValueProject 

• Live Value-chain Stakeholders’ Forum website

The BIOVALUE project promotes underutilized crops (buckwheat, lathyrus, lentils, sonchus, tomatoes, eggplants, Armenian cucumber) to enhance biodiversity and healthy diets. These crops, studied across European pilot sites, offer resilience to environmental challenges and high nutritional value, including proteins, fiber, vitamins, and bioactive compounds like lycopene and anthocyanins. Their cultivation supports sustainable agriculture by reducing monoculture dependency, improving soil health, and addressing climate change. The project developed a recipe booklet featuring innovative dishes like buckwheat pasta and lentil pie, integrating these crops into consumer diets.

Practical Recommendations:

Farmers should cultivate underutilized crops to diversify agroecosystems and enhance resilience, using crop rotation to improve soil fertility. Food processors should develop novel products (e.g., lentil pate, eggplant salad) to meet consumer demand for sustainable, nutritious foods. Retailers and policymakers should promote these crops through biodiversity-focused labeling and public procurement in schools or canteens. Consumers can adopt recipes from the BIOVALUE booklet to incorporate these crops, supporting health benefits and biodiversity conservation.

• Promoting Healthy Diets and Biodiversity with Underutilized Crops

The BIOVALUE project aims to enhance biodiversity in the agri-food value chain by developing novel food products using underutilized crops. It addresses the challenges of sustainable agriculture, food security, and consumer demand for healthier, environmentally friendly options. The project explores ways to integrate these crops into appealing, nutritious products while assessing their economic viability and consumer acceptance.

BIOVALUE has developed innovative recipes incorporating underutilized crops like buckwheat, grass pea, sow thistle, and specific lentil, tomato, and eggplant varieties. Sensory evaluations in multiple European countries revealed high consumer acceptance for red lentil brownies and buckwheat pasta products. The project found that emphasizing health benefits, taste, and environmental impact is crucial for marketing these products. Consumers were more willing to pay for novel foods made from underutilized crops, particularly when their nutritional and sustainability benefits were communicated.

Key recommendations for food producers include:

1. Incorporate underutilized crops into familiar product formats to increase consumer acceptance.
2. Highlight specific health benefits and unique characteristics of these crops in product marketing.
3. Ensure consistent quality and taste to meet consumer expectations.
4. Provide clear information on preparation methods and recipe ideas to encourage use.
5. Consider developing products that cater to specific dietary needs (e.g., gluten-free, plant-based) to target niche markets.
6. Collaborate with local farmers to establish reliable supply chains for these crops.

For policymakers and retailers, the project recommends:

1. Develop explicit labeling schemes that highlight biodiversity contributions.
2. Provide incentives for farmers to grow underutilized crops.
3. Support educational initiatives to increase consumer awareness about these crops and their benefits.

By implementing these findings, stakeholders can contribute to a more diverse, sust

• Recommendations for Food Producers, Policymakers, and Retailers on Underutilize…

Deliverable 7.4 of the BIOVALUE project provides a comprehensive assessment of seven underutilized crops (lentils, lathyrus, buckwheat, sonchus, tomato, eggplant, Armenian cucumber) across pilot countries (Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Estonia, Italy, Norway, Spain, Turkey). Using a vertical integration approach, the study evaluates their agronomic performance, nutritional benefits, and market potential. Key findings include that lentils and lathyrus enhance soil fertility with low-input needs but face challenges such as weed control. Buckwheat thrives in marginal soils, appealing to gluten-free markets. Eggplant and Armenian cucumber offer nutritional richness but require resource-intensive cultivation. Sonchus supports biodiversity in leafy vegetable chains. Trade data highlights Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Turkey) as major producers/exporters, with Northern/Central Europe (Germany, Netherlands) as key importers/processors.

Practical Recommendations:

Farmers should adopt mixed cropping and sustainable practices (e.g., water-saving irrigation) to enhance yields and reduce environmental impact. Processors can innovate with products like eggplant flour or fermented Armenian cucumber snacks to target health-conscious markets. Retailers should promote biodiversity-friendly labeling (e.g., "Organic+" or "Inclusive Farming") to increase consumer awareness. Policymakers can support this through CAP incentives, public procurement inclusion, and streamlined regulations for novel foods, supporting resilient, biodiverse food systems.

• Vertical Integration of Underutilized Crops