Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Challenges and Opportunities for Food Fraud Prevention in the Olive Oil, Wine, Honey, Meat, Dairy, Cereal, and Fish Supply Chains

The project team conducted a needs analysis, focusing on fraud prevention systems across six pivotal supply chains: olive oil, wine, honey, meat, dairy, cereal, and fish. Through meticulous interviews conducted from farm to retail, insights directly from industry stakeholders were identified, shedding light on critical challenges and opportunities. The main conclusions from this analysis include: 

  • Food fraud issues are pervasive, underlining the need for tailored systems to effectively manage these risks. 
  • Traceability emerges as a paramount requirement for most supply chain participants, emphasising the demand for heightened transparency and accountability. 
  • Despite this imperative, many stakeholders lack technological maturity and have limited awareness of emerging systems, indicating a notable gap in knowledge and adoption readiness.
  • Integrating advanced technological solutions presents a significant avenue for improvement, although concerns about cost implications and adoption complexities persist.
  • Regulatory consistency is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any prospective system, ensuring conformity and trust within the marketplace. 
  • The efficacy of suggested solutions and cultivating effective communication channels between business and IT sectors are linchpins for successful implementation.
Source Project
WATSON
Completed | 2023-2026
Main funding source
Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Ireland, France, Italy, Greece, Finland, Denmark, Other, Portugal, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Cyprus, Belgium, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria
Project details

Project Keywords