Co-Fresh

CO-FRESH – CO-creating sustainable and competitive FRuits and vEgetableS’ value cHains in Europe

Started in November 2020, CO-FRESH, based on the current best practices and key success factors observed and analysed in innovative value chains and the state of the art in technological and non-technological approaches, the project proposes to develop techniques, tools and insights for the re-design of agri-food value chains. Through collaborative and systemic approaches, the tools and formats will be applied in 7 pilot cases representing diverse fruit and vegetables agri-food value chains (including protein crops for food and feed) across Europe. CO-FRESH will use the Intervention Research approach to study models of collective innovation action within and across organisations.
The CO-FRESH consortium brings together key actors from pilot agri-food value chains; actors’ associations (farmers, food producers, cooperatives, consumers); experts in technological (including digital) solutions and nontechnological (including social, organizational, and institutional) solutions; as well as experts in environmental, social, economic sustainability, and in consumer’s acceptance.
The main objective of CO-FRESH is to (re)design and pilot innovative systemic approaches to agri-food value chains to scale up this innovation at European level. These innovative approaches will improve economic, social and environmental performance/efficiency of these value chains, through smart integration of technological, social, organisational, managerial and institutional innovations; all of which serve to make them more sustainable.