ZLC addresses the challenges of food security in Europe

Zaragoza, January 23, 2025 – Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC) hosted this week the consortium meeting of the European project SecureFood, marking the first year of activity for this initiative funded by the Horizon Europe Program and spanning three and a half years.

The SecureFood project adopts a comprehensive approach to address the complexity of food systems and tackle the challenges of food security. By creating an ecosystem that integrates scientific knowledge, digital tools, and collaboration among value chain stakeholders, SecureFood aims to establish a framework for managing food systems’ resilience with a focus on food security.

During the meeting, held on January 22-23 at ZLC, the results achieved after the first year of activity were presented, including:

• A comprehensive analysis of the current state of food security and the resilience of food systems.
• The identification of food security drivers and their interrelations along the food supply chains.
• The definition of end-user and stakeholder capabilities, gaps, and needs, articulating their requirements and expectations for the SecureFood ecosystem.

Additionally, the plan for the next six months of the project was unveiled. It includes the design of various innovative technological tools developed to build a digital twin of supply chains for the different use cases considered: aquaculture in Belgium, fisheries in Greece, dairy in Greece and Finland, fruits and vegetables in Portugal, and grain in Ukraine.ZLC plays a key role in SecureFood, leading a work package focused on food systems resilience and activities aimed at supply chain modeling for the development of a digital twin. This technological innovation will enable value chain stakeholders to anticipate and mitigate risks, enhancing food security on a global scale.
"ZLC's role in this innovative project aligns with the center's research agenda, aimed at combining advanced technology with international collaboration to improve value chain resilience. SecureFood represents a significant step forward in global food security, and we are eager to witness the positive impacts it will have on food supply chains worldwide," stated Carolina Ciprés, Director of Research at ZLC.

The SecureFood consortium comprises 25 partners, led by European Dynamics, and includes research centers, food safety consultancy firms, tech companies, retailers, food producers, producer and consumer associations, and policymakers in Agricultural and Food Policy.