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InnOFoodLabs kicks off to boost organic value chains

Foto einer Gruppe Menschen.

InnoFoodLabs partners gathered in Witzenhausen, Germany, for the three-day kick-off meeting hosted by Kassel University. (Photo: Ecovalia, Ángela Morell Pérez)

Logo in the colours blue, green and beige.

InnOFoodLabs project logo.

FiBL coordinates and has a key role in the new Horizon Europe project InnOFoodLabs. The project brings together farmers, researchers, businesses and citizens to boost organic value chains across Europe. Over the next four years, it will pioneer new ways to strengthen the role of organic businesses in local economies.

InnOFoodLabs supports the European Union's goal of achieving 25 per cent organic farmland by 2030. By empowering farmers and small and medium-sized processors to access modern processing facilities, reach new markets, and claim a fair share of the added value, the project strengthens the foundations of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient European food systems.

FiBL's role

FiBL has a leading role in InnOFoodLabs. FiBL Europe coordinates and manages the project with Jorge Del Cueto and Bram Moeskops. FiBL Switzerland is responsible for sustainability impact assessment, with Christian Schader, Lukas Baumgart and Toralf Richter. In addition, Ivraina Brändle and Nina Lamprecht are responsible for building the Community of Practice, which will promote knowledge exchange and peer learning.

Twelve Living Labs, 23 innovations

InnOFoodLabs will promote 23 innovations through twelve regional Living Labs in nine countries. These Living Labs will cover areas such as small-scale processing, sustainable packaging, farmer-processor collaboration and new supply models engaging citizens.

Community of Practice

A strong Community of Practice will complement the Living Labs. It will enable partners and stakeholders to share experiences and learn from each other across borders. Study visits and peer-to-peer exchanges will support collaboration.

Kick-off in Witzenhausen

InnOFoodLabs began on 1 September 2025. The kick-off meeting took place from 23 to 25 September in Witzenhausen, Germany, hosted by Kassel University. Participants planned project activities and visited inspiring local organic farms such as Solawi Höhberg Kollektiv and Gut Fahrenbach. They also connected with the sister-project WINN-Organic.

Further Information

FiBL Contact

Jorge Del Cueto (FiBL Europe)

Links

Partners

  • Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL EU)
  • Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL CH)
  • Association of Organic Food Producers (AÖL)
  • University of Kassel (Uni Kassel)
  • Marche Polytechnic University (UNIVPM)
  • International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements EU Regional Group (IFOAM EU)
  • Ecovalia Association (Ecovalia)
  • Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU)
  • Universitas Mercatorum Telematic University (UTUM)
  • University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (JCU)
  • Roskilde University (RUC)
  • Technical Institute of Organic Agriculture (ITAB)
  • Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW)
  • University of Maribor (UM)
  • Sady Sv. Prokopa s.r.o. (Sady)
  • Organic Samsø A/S (OS)
  • EPLEFPA Le Valentin (Valentin)
  • Gino Girolomoni Agricultural Cooperative (Girolomoni)
  • Terre Biologiche Veronesi (TBV)
  • "Dobrze" Food Cooperative Association (Dobrze)
  • Vila Natura Services and Consulting d.o.o. / Vila Natura d.o.o. (Vila Natura)
  • Oberland Organic Beef Association (OBW)
  • Land Culture Experience Association (LKE)
  • Cooperative Food Supply Laboratory (Terranostra)
  • Escorxador de l'Armentera SCCL (Armentera)
  • Fabas Foods AG (Fabas)

Funding

InnOFoodLabs project is funded by the European Union (Grant no. 101181923) and by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).