MicroOrc

The EU project MICROORC focuses on developing new, sustainable solutions to extend the shelf life of foods by combining innovative technologies and advanced materials. With a strong emphasis on research and development in food safety and sustainability, the project is particularly focused on creating solutions to address the many challenges surrounding the shelf life of fresh and perishable foods. The aim is to reduce food waste by increasing the precision of shelf-life labeling and by extending the shelf life of food products using innovative methods and tools.

The MICROORC project aims to extend and more accurately determine the shelf life of perishable foods, thereby reducing avoidable food waste through two primary strategies:

1. By developing advanced tools, technologies, and guidelines that enable improved process control. This includes microbiome monitoring and new, more accurate predictions for shelf life and labeling. This precise monitoring strengthens food safety and provides better data for assessing products’ storage and shelf life, which can lead to better-informed consumers.
2. By extending shelf life using bio-based protection methods and packaging technologies that effectively reduce, control, or limit the growth of harmful and pathogenic microorganisms on or within food products. These measures not only improve food quality and safety but also optimize packaging solutions to be sustainable and better aligned with today’s environmental requirements.

To ensure a sustainable transition, new innovations within the project are not only developed but also evaluated from a broad sustainability perspective. Therefore, sustainability assessments are integrated into the innovation processes, also considering consumers’ perspectives. This approach ensures that the solutions developed meet technical and environmental standards while also accounting for social and economic factors, which is crucial for a comprehensive sustainability perspective.

Since current regulations are often static and unable to evolve in step with rapid technological and market changes, the project also actively works to identify and develop new methods for policy and regulatory innovation. This means MICROORC strives to develop concrete proposals and tools to adapt regulations quickly and efficiently, supporting a more sustainable and innovative food industry. A dynamic and forward-looking policy development approach is thus an important component to enable the practical implementation of technical solutions that benefit both the industry and consumers.