02/Sep/2026
How can microbiome science move from promising research to solutions that make Europe’s food system more sustainable, resilient and healthy?
On 1 October 2026, MICROORC will join seven other EU-funded projects in Brussels for “Harnessing Microbiomes for a Sustainable Food System: From Farm to Fork and Beyond”, a full-day event dedicated to exploring the potential of microbiomes across the food value chain.
Organised by the Microbiomes4SustainableFoods Cluster, the event will bring together researchers, European Commission representatives, industry, farmers, consumer organisations and other food-system actors to connect scientific advances with the challenges of their practical implementation.
Microbiomes play a role at virtually every stage of the food system – from soils and crops to food processing, fermentation and the human gut. Understanding and harnessing these complex microbial communities could open new opportunities to improve food production, develop innovative plant-based foods, extend shelf life, reduce waste and support healthier and more sustainable diets.
The Brussels event will look beyond individual technologies and research results to address a broader question: what is needed to turn microbiome knowledge into solutions that can deliver real impact?
Throughout the day, participants will discuss advances in sustainable and resilient food production, food safety and shelf life, plant-based food innovation, fermentation and nutrition. Particular attention will also be given to the conditions required for microbiome-based innovations to progress towards wider adoption.
Two roundtable discussions will connect researchers with policymakers and industry representatives to examine remaining evidence gaps, barriers to uptake and the role that European research and food policy can play in supporting the responsible development of microbiome-based solutions.
Confirmed contributors include 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 the participating EU projects.
Eight projects connecting microbiome research across the food system
The event is a joint initiative of the Microbiomes4SustainableFoods Cluster, bringing together WHEATBIOME, MICROBIOMES4SOY, TRIBIOME, HealthFerm, DELICIOUS, FOODGUARD, MICROORC and DOMINO.
By connecting projects working on different parts of the food system, the cluster creates opportunities to exchange knowledge, identify common challenges and strengthen the links between microbiome research, innovation and European food-system priorities.
For MICROORC, the event represents an opportunity to contribute its research to this wider conversation and explore how complementary knowledge generated across European projects can help create pathways from scientific evidence towards meaningful food-system applications.
Harnessing Microbiomes for a Sustainable Food System: From Farm to Fork and Beyond will take place on Thursday, 1 October 2026, from 09:00 to 18:00 CET, at BlankSpace Brussels, Rue d’Arlon 80, Brussels. The event will be held in person, with hybrid participation also available.
Registration is open: Microbiomes for the Future of Food Systems
Funded by the
European Union under Grant Agreement N° 101136248. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the
author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or REA. Neither the European
Union nor REA can be held responsible for them.