On Tuesday, October 10th 2023, the SISTERS consortium celebrated its 5th General Assembly which took place in Madrid (Spain) and which was organised by INNOVARUM (WP8 – D&C leaders).

The partners gathered and discussed the main advancements and progress of each Work Package (WP) during the first 2 years of the project and since the last evaluation from the EU Commission. We are glad to announce that the SISTERS developments are on track and advancing towards more sustained results in the next few months.

Key highlights in each WP discussed during the meeting:

WP1: Identifying Producers and Users

In WP1, the primary focus has been on finding alternative solutions to identify producers and users for REGIONEO (Short Chain Platform for Producers). This critical step lays the foundation for the entire project focusing on the primary production stage, ensuring that we have a clear understanding of the stakeholders involved.

WP2: Advancing Sensor Technology

WP2 has seen commendable progress, with a key milestone marking the successful completion of the sensor kit. Additionally, there’s a strategic shift in one of the tasks towards prioritizing the development of the StoreBox. This adjustment is anticipated to expedite the trials, aiming for completion within the next six months.

WP3: Formulations and Extraction Methods

Significant strides have been made in WP3, where our team has studied and tested various materials at industrial facilities. With final formulations and extraction methods now ready, we’re entering the crucial pilot phase. This stage will involve extensive testing with end-users (FEM) and is expected to be a pivotal period of activity up to M30 (April 2024).

WP4: Bulkbox Testing and Assessment

WP4 is dedicated to the assessment and testing of the BulkBox (WP2). This component is integral to the project’s success, and the team is working tirelessly to ensure its functionality and efficacy. The activity in this WP has just kicked off in October 2023, and will impact mainly wholesalers and retailers from 30 different market centres, who will be engaging with the “SISTERS Seal of Excellence”.

WP5: Raising Consumer Awareness

WP5 has been instrumental in raising awareness among consumers about SISTERS sustainable solutions. An online consumer survey was distributed among SISTERS networks reaching a total of 1250 consumers, in order to gather specific data from consumers’ daily practice and relate it to food waste generated at this stage of the agri-food value chain.

WP6: Understanding Consumer Habits and Demand

A deep understanding of consumer habits and demand trends is crucial for the success of any sustainable solution. In WP6, our team is diligently gathering this vital information to support life cycle assessments (LCA), simplified life cycle assessments (sLCA), and life cycle costing (LCC). This data will inform the identification of the most relevant marketable results and guide the development of a robust business model that brings us closer to market readiness.

WP7: Fostering EU-related Synergies

WP7 is working on developing specific actions targeted to policy makers such as: policy letters, policy briefs, policy-related newsletters, online webinars, working groups with related EU Projects, and fostering synergies with the EU Green Deal call projects as well.

WP8: Dissemination & Communication

WP8 will continue to put efforts in refreshing the project’s channels to provide stakeholders with up-to-date information. Activities related to WP1 are also underway to support the identification of producers and users and ensure their engagement in the project’s D&C actions. 2024 D&C campaign planning will kick off soon.

To conclude

The collaborative efforts across these work packages underscore our commitment to developing sustainable solutions for SISTERS. With each milestone achieved, we move one step closer to a more sustainable future. Together, we’re making significant strides towards a more environmentally conscious and economically viable approach for producers and users in the SISTERS community.

SISTERS General Assembly recap