On 13-14 October 2025, the DEFENSEFOOD Horizon Europe project officially launched with a Kick-off Meeting held at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Guided by the motto, “Defending the food systems through science and innovation”, the project aims to enhance the resilience of Europe’s food supply chain against chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) threats, ensuring robust preparedness, rapid response, and effective recovery.
A concept, more relevant than ever
Today’s food systems are complex and vulnerable. In a landscape that constantly changes politically, technologically, and socially, the idea of securing these systems against threats becomes more relevant than ever. Food fraud and adulteration are common, but food safety systems are not designed to handle systemic or malicious incidents. “DEFENSEFOOD‘s holistic approach seeks both to invest in food threat prevention and to develop a dynamic system capable of adapting and responding to emerging threats, thereby ensuring direct and effective protection of food systems”, stated Natalie Masters, representing the project coordinator, Sustainable Criminal Justice Solutions.
Multidisciplinary consortium full of expertise
Thirteen partners from nine countries gathered in the Netherlands to officially launch the project, focusing on a scientific approach designed to make a meaningful impact on society.
DEFENSEFOOD brings together a strong group of partners, including:
- Research institutes and public organisations with extensive work and expertise on food safety and applied research: Syreon Research Institute (Hungary), Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen Food Safety Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (The Netherlands), Sciensano (Belgium), McGill University (Canada), National Research Council (Italy), Spanish Food and Drink Industry Federation (Spain), Fraunhofer (Germany),
- Security and defence experts: Sustainable Criminal Justice Solutions (United Kingdom), University of the Bundeswehr Munich (Germany),
- Sustainability and green tech experts: Ubuntoo (The Netherlands),
- Dissemination, exploitation, and communication leaders: reframe.food (Greece)
Read the full press release announcing the project launch here.
As scientific coordinators of the project, Ákos Józwiak and the Syreon team believe that this truly multidisciplinary effort unites AI and advanced analytics with social and natural sciences, public health, and policy — turning early warning into early action to keep Europe’s food safe, resilient, and trusted.
Find out more about DEFENSEFOOD here.
Disclaimer:
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
