TealHelix Project

🏷️ From Fairtrade International and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to EU Ecolabel, B Corp, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), and dozens more, consumers are increasingly facing a growing number of certifications that aim to communicate environmental and social responsibility.

While these labels play an important role, the sheer volume of sustainability information can also create confusion, information overload, and even skepticism. This is exactly the challenge that TealHelix Project seeks to address.

At TealHelix, we're exploring how personalised labeling approaches and AI-powered digital innovations can make sustainability information more accessible, relevant, and inclusive for all consumers.
Because effective sustainability communication isn't just about providing information, it's about empowering better decisions.

Learn more: https://tealhelix.eu/

Image source: https://lnkd.in/dPsJFpBQ

🎬 Curious about how Europe can build more sustainable and resilient food systems? Watch our synergy project's Vision4Food project EU video and discover how the project is fostering collaboration and innovation across five European regions.

VISION4FOOD is bringing together researchers, businesses, policymakers, and civil society to drive innovation and support the 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬. Through collaborative Food Innovation Platforms, the project is developing inclusive governance models and co-creating solutions for more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems.

🔗 Learn more about the project's vision, objectives, and approach in their project video at the link below.

VISION4FOOD Project EU video Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

📌 TealHelix held its third 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐚 on 27-28 April, bringing together consortium partners for two days of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategic planning for the next phase of the project!

Key discussions focused on:

💡 Advancements and plans across WPs, with discussions on sustainability information, consumer motivation, ICT solutions, pilots, and trust-building in food labelling;

🌍 Updates on the Go Green Hub co-creation sessions, highlighting local collaboration and stakeholder engagement across regional hub teams;

🤝 Interactive pilot sessions connecting research and industry partners, enabling co-planning of the activities ahead.

As TealHelix moves further into its second year, we are excited to bring forward our interdisciplinary research for innovative, inclusive, and trustworthy sustainability labelling solutions for consumers across Europe.

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐛 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚!

On 10 March, the first Go Green Hub of the TealHelix project took place at 𝐁𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚, hosted by 𝐁𝐎𝐊𝐔 and 𝐆𝐒𝟏 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐆𝐦𝐛𝐇.

The event brought together representatives from policymakers, government agencies, and NGOs active in the food sector to discuss the current progress of the project and exchange perspectives on sustainability information and food labelling. Among others, representatives from the 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲, 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄 Ö𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐡, 𝐆𝐒𝟏 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐆𝐦𝐛𝐇, and 𝐖𝐖𝐅 Ö𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐡 participated in the event.

The session served as an important “reality check”, allowing the consortium to gather valuable feedback on whether the project’s work aligns with the real challenges faced by NGOs and public authorities.

Participants also heard from GS1 Germany, who introduced current 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 and discussed future developments, including the migration towards 2𝐃 𝐐𝐑 𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬.

Go Green Hubs are a key part of the TealHelix co-creation approach, bringing together citizens and stakeholders to share knowledge, discuss sustainability challenges, and collaboratively shape innovative solutions for more transparent and trustworthy food information.

💡 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭

Within the framework of the TealHelix project and in collaboration with Dietwise, our project coordinators at KU Leuven recently organised a valorisation workshop led by Stakeholder Board member Maud Hartstra.

The session brought together primarily young researchers and junior post-docs from the consortium to reflect on their work through a valorisation lens. Participants were introduced to the 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜-𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 and invited to apply a startup perspective to their research.

🧩 Through interactive exercises, brainstorming sessions and group discussions, attendees explored how academic research can be translated into practical tools, initiatives or activities that address societal challenges. The workshop helped strengthen researchers’ capacity to connect scientific work with real-world impact.

The workshop was delivered in both onsite and online formats and was open to consortium members.

🔗 Visit our website to remain up to date with our latest events: https://tealhelix.eu

📩 The 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 is now available!

This issue covers key developments from the past six months, including highlights from recent events and conferences, the completion of a foundational Work Package, and updates from our collaboration within the EU Cluster for Food Traceability and Trust and other synergy initiatives. We also share what lies ahead as the project moves forward in its second year.

👉 Read the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/eMmDU7ss

Follow our journey as TealHelix continues working towards clearer, more inclusive, and personalised approaches to food sustainability labelling across Europe.

📢Exciting funding opportunity from our synergy project Excel4Pro!

Excel4Pro has officially launched its 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. With a total budget of €360,000, the call will support at least nine startups and SMEs that are developing or ready to develop innovative plant-based protein and sustainable food solutions in 𝗧ü𝗿𝗸𝗶𝘆𝗲, 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲.

The Open Call provides 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 €𝟰𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 and supports solutions focusing on:
🔷 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲–𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀: Targeting next-generation plant proteins with enhanced functional properties.
🔷 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Optimising plant proteins for performance within food matrices (flavour, texture, nutritional value).
🔷 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆-𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀: Implementing sustainable processing technologies (e.g., circular economy, energy-efficient methods)

Selected projects will be implemented over three consecutive phases, spanning from November 2026 until January 2028. Proposals must be submitted digitally via the opencalls.fund platform - link available below.

📅𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 27 April 2026, 17:00 CET
📍𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺: https://lnkd.in/dRNA7yzk
ℹ️𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/dyKpHCgh

📢 We are pleased to announce the completion of 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟮 (𝗪𝗣𝟮)!

The work package was led by 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, with individual tasks also led by key consortium partners 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮, Zenith, and 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁. 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 supported by strong cross-partner collaboration from the whole consortium.

🔍 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗣𝟮:

🔹𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀: A literature review, stakeholder interviews, and an EU-wide inventory revealed a fragmented labelling landscape, where complexity and low standardisation limit trust and comprehension.

🔹𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟭 𝗘𝗨 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Engagement with sustainability labels depends on combinations of values, personality, and context; younger and more educated consumers are more receptive, while affordability remains a key barrier.

🔹𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 & 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀: Sustainability is now central to food advertising, with impact driven by credible claims, transparency, and a balanced mix of traditional and digital channels.

🔹𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀: Social media analysis shows higher engagement with environmental and animal welfare topics, while affordability and workers’ conditions trigger more negative sentiment.

🌍 Together, these results provide a 𝗿𝗼𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲 to support science-based communication strategies, inclusive sustainability information, and better-informed policy and industry action.

📍Join our Synergy Project Vision4Food project EU for their Network of Interest Annual Meeting!

🗓️ Save the date: Thursday 22 January, 2026 (11:00 - 12:15 CET).

More information about the event, as well as details on how to register for the NoI and the event, can be found at the following link: https://ow.ly/sWAZ50XKPOQ

We are delighted to share that TealHelix Project will participate in the CUES EU Project webinar, “𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒓”.

As part of the program, our partners from University of St.Gallen will present “𝘔𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘈𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢”, sharing results on how external drivers, personal motivations, and existing labelling systems shape consumer behaviour online.

The webinar will bring together eight EU-funded projects to share key insights into what drives sustainable consumer behaviour and how this can support Europe’s transition to responsible consumption.

Don’t miss it! Register at the link below:
https://lnkd.in/eHG6_bdC