On December 2023, Brussels hosted the launch and presentation of the groundbreaking European project, B-TRUST.
Biotechnology – the innovative application of biological systems and organisms for technological progress -, plays a crucial role in advancing a sustainable European industry. Nevertheless, despite its noteworthy benefits in areas such as healthcare, materials, chemicals, agriculture and food production, it faces significant obstacles in obtaining broad public acceptance. This uncertainty leads to reluctance among industry and investors to adopt and invest in biotechnological solutions and creates little incentive to eliminate regulatory barriers that prevent implementation.
Acknowledging the concerns of citizens, closing the information gap, promoting transparent communication, and actively engaging stakeholders in decision-making processes are pivotal steps to tackle this challenge effectively and establish a foundation of acceptance that, in turn, will significantly contribute to the advancement and widespread adoption of these technologies.
Aligned with the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the Green Deal goals, the main objective of the B-TRUST project is to develop a transparent and inclusive governance model in order to overcome public distrust and industry hesitancy, enabling the application of biotechnology in the bio-based and agri-food sector. More specifically, the aim of the project is to inform and create transparency related to consumer and environmental safety, to leverage engagement from citizens and other stakeholders, and to develop and exchange best practices.
B-TRUST, rooted in a Theory of Change to steer towards tangible impact and utilising co-creation trajectories, positions itself as a catalyst, bridging the gap between the potential of industrial biotechnology and its real-world impact on sustainable development, empowering citizens/consumers, public authorities, policy makers, researchers and investors to participate actively in the co-creation of biotech solutions.
With a budget of 1.5 million €, the B-TRUST project, financed by the European Union under the Horizon Europe 2021-2027 programme, brings together the three largest food and biotechnology clusters in Europe – Flanders’ FOOD, food+i and Food and Bio Cluster Denmark -, LAMA Società Cooperaitiva, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) and a co-creation expert, Alice down the rabbit hole, from four different countries (Belgium, Denmark, Spain, and Italy).
For more information:
Visit the project website: https://btrustproject.eu/
Follow on the project Social Media: LinkedIn Facebook & X
Contact information:
Sofía Ros – Clúster FOOD+i – sros@clusterfoodmasi.es – 0034 659 17 53 35
