On 5 December 2024, the DRG4FOOD & FOODITY Standardisation Workshop brought together a diverse group of experts, stakeholders, and innovators for an engaging and insightful online event. This one-day online workshop, with over 35 participants, served as a collaborative platform to explore the challenges and opportunities of applying existing standards in the food and data sectors, with a particular focus on safety, security, privacy, and digital responsibility

A Shared Vision for Standards in Food Systems

The workshop, hosted by the EU-funded DRG4FOOD and FOODITY projects, underscored the importance of standardisation in shaping the future of sustainable and secure food systems. Standards provide the foundation for trust, interoperability, and innovation, enabling stakeholders to address key challenges while fostering collaboration across sectors.

The event featured contributions from 4 EU projects— DRG4FOOD, FOODITY, FEAST, and FOLOU—as well as four pilot projects from the DRG4FOOD and FOODITY Open Calls: NutriWell, DIAITA, ATTESTED & 3FAIR, and the Kitchen Adventure. Adding to the depth of discussions, EuroFIR, a leading standardisation body, provided valuable insights into the harmonisation and reuse of food composition data.

Key Discussions and Insights

Throughout the day, speakers and participants delved into the practicalities of implementing existing standards, the gaps that need addressing, and the opportunities for innovation. Highlights included:

• Exploration of Food Systems and Sustainability: Dr. Anant Jani from the FEAST project highlighted the role of FAIR principles in enabling food systems to transition toward healthier and more sustainable outcomes.
• Blockchain for Certification and Traceability: FOLOU’s Giacomo Zonneveld presented innovative solutions for certification using blockchain technology, addressing critical challenges in ensuring data integrity.
• AI in Personalized Nutrition: Javier Ginebreda from the DIAITA project discussed the role of standardisation in enhancing AI-driven solutions for personalised nutrition.
• Data Ecosystems and Ontologies: Jann Eike Kruse from ATTESTED & 3FAIR shared insights into underutilised data standards and ontologies with great potential for broader adoption.

Looking Ahead

The workshop was a resounding success, providing a forum for constructive dialogue and actionable takeaways. It reaffirmed the commitment of DRG4FOOD, FOODITY, and their collaborators to advancing standardisation efforts in the food and data sectors.

To continue the momentum, a detailed Workshop Booklet has been prepared, featuring key highlights, speaker presentations, and outcomes from the event. The booklet, along with the agenda and speaker materials, is now available for download.