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Eight EU-funded projects, one shared ambition: unlocking the potential of microbiomes for more sustainable, resilient and healthy food systems.

On 1 October 2026, MICROORC joined researchers, policymakers, industry representatives and other food-system stakeholders in Brussels for “Harnessing Microbiomes for a Sustainable Food System: From Farm to Fork and Beyond.”

Organised by the Microbiomes4SustainableFoods Cluster, the event brought together eight EU-funded projects working across different areas of microbiome research: WHEATBIOME, MICROBIOMES4SOY, TRIBIOME, HealthFerm, DELICIOUS, FOODGUARD, MICROORC and DOMINO.

Throughout the day, participants explored the role microbiomes can play across the food system – from soils and crops to food production, fermentation, food safety and shelf life, nutrition and the human gut.

But the conversation went beyond scientific advances. A central focus was how promising microbiome research can move closer to practical application and wider uptake, and what evidence, enabling conditions and policy support are needed to make this possible.

MICROORC was represented by project coordinator Solveig Langsrud, who contributed to the discussions and shared the project’s perspective on how microbiome knowledge can support innovation towards safer, more sustainable food systems.

Two roundtable discussions provided an opportunity for researchers, policymakers and industry representatives to exchange perspectives on remaining barriers and opportunities for the responsible development of microbiome-based approaches.

The programme also included contributions from Giuseppina Luvara from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Guido Giudetti from the European Research Executive Agency, Marco Candela from the University of Bologna, Susana Carvalho from the University of Porto and Sandrine Claus, founder of Starfish, alongside researchers from across the eight projects.

Connecting knowledge across the food system

For MICROORC, the event offered an important opportunity to place its work within the broader European microbiome research landscape and exchange knowledge with projects addressing complementary parts of the food system.

Through the Microbiomes4SustainableFoods Cluster, the eight projects are connecting expertise and perspectives that span the food value chain, helping identify common challenges and strengthen the links between research, innovation and future applications.

The Brussels event demonstrated the value of this collaborative approach: bringing different disciplines and stakeholders around the same table to explore how microbiome science can contribute to the transition towards a more sustainable European food system.

Thank you to all speakers, projects and participants who contributed to the discussions and made the event possible. Watch the recorded session at this link!