Research
NordicFOOD develops and employs state-of-the-art omics technologies, digital technologies and data-driven solutions to tackle four research themes:
1. Diversity of Nordic food resources
The unique Nordic environment and biodiversity offer great potential for quality-driven resilience and sustainability of food. However, there are major knowledge gaps about the biodiversity of current food crops, underutilized crops suitable for cultivation in the Nordic region, and new sustainable food resources such as algae. NordicFOOD aims to fill these gaps to harness the full potential of Nordic food recourses.
2. Technology-driven food production
Technology development is crucial for sustainable production of safe, healthy, and tasty foods from novel resources assessed in theme 1. Indoor farming and bioprocessing empowered by digital technologies will be in focus when we translate the strong fundamental research to technological solutions enhancing the safety, quality, and sustainability of Nordic foods.
3. Healthy diet and sustainable food choices
Incorporation of novel ingredients inevitably changes the nutrient profile of food, which influences the metabolism and alters the interaction between food and gut microbiota. NordicFOOD aims to in-depth understanding of these health implications. In addition, NordicFOOD forwards the transitioning to sustainable food systems by investigating how different variables impact food choices.
4. Socio-economic systems and sustainable futures
Uniting the perspectives of the themes 1-3, this cross-cutting theme explores and scrutinizes the transition and transformation dynamics in socio-economic dimensions from short- to long-term futures of sustainable food systems. Using selected cases and clusters, NordicFOOD will demonstrate emerging pathways for enhancing the probable, possible and radical socio-economic opportunities in the Nordic food domains.