Month: April 2025

As part of its mission to foster innovation and digital transformation in the agri-food sector, the TRUSTFOOD project continues to build bridges between education and industry. Over the course of April 7–8, 2025, AgroTransilvania Cluster had the distinct pleasure of connecting with future professionals in the food supply chain during a series of presentations at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca.

TRUSTFOOD is an ambitious Digital Europe initiative dedicated to designing and delivering short-term training courses aimed at upskilling and reskilling the labour force. With a strong focus on SMEs in the agri-food value chain, these courses will equip business owners, managers, and employees with highly practical skills, particularly in the application of blockchain and other key digital technologies relevant to the sector.

During the two-day engagement at the university, AgroTransilvania Cluster showcased the relevance of digital innovation and sustainable practices to an audience of students from various educational levels and backgrounds.

Highlights from April 7:

• A dedicated session with international students provided a global perspective on innovation in agri-food systems. Discussions revolved around emerging digital tools and how they can be applied to increase transparency, traceability, and efficiency in food supply chains worldwide.
• Second-year students from the Faculty of Food Science attended a presentation that delved into current trends and pressing challenges in the food system. The session emphasized the need for digital competencies and encouraged students to explore how technologies like blockchain can enhance food safety and consumer trust.

Highlights from April 8:

• Students enrolled in Food Industry and Food Business programs participated in an in-depth discussion on the practical applications of digital tools in their future careers. The session reinforced TRUSTFOOD’s mission to deliver real-world, applicable knowledge to the next generation of professionals.
• In partnership with the “Green School” initiative, an interactive workshop was held with high school students to raise awareness about sustainability and environmental stewardship from an early age. The initiative aligns with TRUSTFOOD’s broader goal of fostering a culture of responsibility and innovation within the agri-food ecosystem.

These sessions provided a meaningful platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and inspiration. By involving students at various stages of their educational journeys, TRUSTFOOD and AgroTransilvania Cluster reaffirm their commitment to cultivating a skilled and forward-thinking workforce, ready to embrace the digital transformation of the agri-food sector.

In a significant stride towards digital transformation in the agri-food sector, Smart Agro Hub proudly represented the TRUSTFOOD project at the BEYOND 2025 Expo, held in Athens. This premier technology and innovation event provided an ideal platform to highlight TRUSTFOOD’s mission: equipping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food supply chain with advanced digital skills, particularly in blockchain technology.

TRUSTFOOD, a collaborative initiative under the Digital Europe Programme, aims to upskill and reskill the agri-food workforce through specialized training courses. These courses focus on the practical applications of blockchain technology to enhance transparency, traceability, and trust across the food supply chain. By providing real-time, tamper-proof data, TRUSTFOOD empowers consumers, producers, and regulators to make informed decisions, fostering a safer and more sustainable food system.

Smart Agro Hub, a competence center in smart farming initiated by the Agricultural University of Athens, plays a pivotal role in the TRUSTFOOD project. With a team of highly qualified scientists and a robust infrastructure, Smart Agro Hub is committed to driving innovation and sustainability in agriculture through digital technologies. Their participation in BEYOND 2025 underscores their dedication to bridging the gap between academic research and practical applications in the agri-food sector.

At the expo, Smart Agro Hub engaged with a diverse audience, including industry professionals, academics, and policymakers, to discuss the transformative potential of blockchain in agriculture. The event facilitated meaningful conversations on how digital tools can address current challenges in the food supply chain, such as food fraud, inefficiencies, and lack of transparency.

The representation of TRUSTFOOD at BEYOND 2025 not only amplified the project’s visibility but also reinforced the importance of digital literacy in agriculture. As the sector navigates the complexities of the modern food system, initiatives like TRUSTFOOD are instrumental in preparing the workforce to leverage technology for improved outcomes.

On March 28th 2025, TRUSTFOOD and DEDEP.eu joined forces to host a dynamic online workshop focused on two essential pillars of EU project success: effective communication and the active involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With a shared commitment to strengthening the European innovation ecosystem, the event highlighted practical strategies for empowering SMEs—particularly those in the agri-food sector—to engage more fully in EU-funded initiatives.

The session addressed a growing challenge in European project implementation: how to ensure that SMEs not only benefit from but also meaningfully contribute to research, innovation, and digital transformation efforts. In particular, the workshop emphasized the role of digital skills development, tailored outreach, and strategic dissemination in breaking down participation barriers.

TRUSTFOOD, an initiative under the Digital Europe Programme, is dedicated to equipping agri-food professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate and implement emerging technologies, especially blockchain. Through short-term, highly practical training courses, TRUSTFOOD aims to upskill and reskill SME owners, managers, and employees, enhancing their capacity to compete in a digitally driven marketplace.

DEDEP.eu (Digital Education and Dissemination for European Projects) complements this mission by offering expert insights into best practices for communication and stakeholder engagement in EU-funded projects. By leveraging both digital tools and human-centered strategies, DEDEP.eu works to make complex project outcomes more accessible and impactful for wider audiences—including SMEs that often lack the internal resources to navigate the EU project landscape.

Workshop participants had the opportunity to learn from real-world examples, explore actionable outreach tactics, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the importance of inclusive project design. From increasing transparency with blockchain solutions to designing communication strategies that resonate with non-technical stakeholders, the session delivered valuable takeaways for project coordinators, SMEs, and policy advocates alike.

Missed the workshop? You can watch the full session here: Watch on YouTube

By continuing to foster collaboration between projects like TRUSTFOOD and DEDEP.eu, the European innovation community moves closer to building a more inclusive, digitally empowered, and impact-driven future.

As part of the TRUSTFOOD initiative’s ongoing outreach and educational mission, 482.solutions recently hosted an online school visit to introduce students to the cutting-edge potential of blockchain technology in the agri-food sector. This engaging and interactive session highlighted the ways digital innovation is reshaping how food is produced, traced, and trusted across the supply chain.

TRUSTFOOD, a forward-looking Digital Europe project, is dedicated to delivering practical, short-term training courses that support the upskilling and reskilling of workers in the agri-food and food supply chain sectors. With a strong emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the initiative focuses on real-world applications of blockchain technology to ensure greater efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.

During the session, students were introduced to key concepts such as transparency, traceability, and trust—three pillars essential to modern food systems. The team from 482.solutions explained how blockchain enables tamper-proof, real-time data to flow securely from farm to fork. By doing so, it empowers not only producers and distributors but also regulators and consumers with reliable, accessible information.

The session also provided students with practical examples of how blockchain technology can prevent fraud, ensure food safety, and improve supply chain accountability. These discussions gave young participants a first-hand look at how digital tools can lead to more responsible food production and smarter, data-driven decision-making.

Engaging with curious and enthusiastic students offered a glimpse into the future of the food industry—one where innovation meets responsibility. By connecting with the next generation of thinkers, TRUSTFOOD and 482.solutions are helping to build a digitally skilled workforce ready to lead the transformation of the agri-food ecosystem.