This p ojec has ecei ed unding om he Eu opean Union’s Ho izon 2020 esea ch
and inno a ion p og amme unde he g an ag eemen numbe 101000499.
© COPYRIGHT
NEWSLETTER
Magazine
6 ISSUE
Feb ua y 2025
FORK-TO-FARM AGENT-
BASED SIMULATION
TOOL AUGMENTING
BIODIVERSITY IN THE
AGRI-FOOD VALUE CHAIN
h
1.Explo ing Sus ainable Food h ough Biodi e si y
2. In e iew wi h MAICh
3. Ou Pilo cases- Sonchus Ole aceus
4. Ou Recipes – Buckwhea & Po a o Ta
5. Video se ies on You ube
6. News & Upda es
7. Mus eads- Ou La es Publica ions
Topics o his Newsle e
´
BioValue is wo king o c ea e inno a i e ood p oduc s ha a e no only
heal hy and sus ainable bu also appeal o consume s. By using an agen -
based simula ion ool o connec he do s be ween biodi e si y, he
en i onmen , he ag i- ood alue chain, and consume p e e ences ou goal is
o design ood ha suppo s biodi e si y, encou ages sus ainable a ming,
and mee s he nu i ional needs o consume s.
A he hea o he p ojec is a me hod called he “ o k- o- a m” app oach. This
means we s a by de eloping ood ecipes using unde u ilized c ops (plan s
ha a e no widely used in ood oday) and hen mo e h ough senso y es s,
ma ke e alua ion, and consume eedback. This app oach ensu es ha he
ood p oduc s a e heal hy, appealing, and sus ainable.
1. Explo ing Sus ainable Food
h ough Biodi e si y
BIODIVERSITY
Key Ing edien s om Na u e's Hidden Gems
We a e ocusing on c ops ha ha e been la gely o e looked in ood p oduc ion bu
o e signi ican heal h bene i s. These include buckwhea , g ass peas, sow his le,
len ils, and oma oes, among o he s. These plan s a e no only nu i ious bu also
ha e a lowe en i onmen al impac compa ed o mo e common c ops.
Buckwhea is a glu en- ee g ain ha is ich in ibe and p o eins.
G ass pea is a d ough - esis an legume packed wi h p o eins.
Sow his le, a wild plan , o e s a g ea sou ce o an ioxidan s and i amins.
Len ils a e al eady known o hei high p o ein con en , bu we a e explo ing
how hey can be used in no el p oduc s like b ownies and bu ge s.
2
´
Unde s anding consume p e e ences is c ucial o he success o new ood
p oduc s. Based on he ex ensi e wo k done by MAICh we can say ha he e is
g owing in e es in heal hie , mo e sus ainable oods. Consume s in Se bia
and G eece, o example, showed a willingness o pay mo e o p oduc s made
om hese unde u ilized c ops. This opens exci ing oppo uni ies o new
p oduc s in he Eu opean ma ke .
Mo eo e , using hese c ops can help suppo local economies, p omo e
sus ainable a ming, and educe he en i onmen al oo p in o ood
p oduc ion. The p ojec ’s economic analysis sugges s ha hese p oduc s
could succeed in he ma ke wi h he igh ma ke ing s a egies and p icing.
1. Explo ing Sus ainable Food
h ough Biodi e si y
SUSTAINABLE
Ac ionable Recommenda ions o a G eene Fu u e
We ha e iden i ied ways o help a ious s akeholde s, such as a me s, ood p oduce s,
and policymake s, play a ole in p omo ing hese new ood p oduc s.
Recommenda ions include:
Fa me s should g ow mo e unde u ilized c ops o help suppo biodi e si y and
sus ainable ag icul u e.
Food p oduce s can de elop new p oduc s ha make use o hese c ops, p o iding
mo e sus ainable op ions o consume s.
Policymake s should c ea e suppo i e policies ha encou age he cul i a ion and
use o unde u ilized c ops in he ood indus y.
Toge he , wi h he igh policies, collabo a ion, and consume suppo , we can build a
u u e whe e biodi e si y h i es in ou ood sys em, ensu ing a be e , mo e sus ainable
wo ld o e e yone.
The Pa h o Ma ke :
Consume
Accep ance and
Economic Po en ial
The Pa h o Ma ke : Consume Accep ance and Economic Po en ial
3
2. In e iew wi h MAICh
Wha is MAICh's ole in
he BioValue p ojec ?
The Medi e anean Ag onomic Ins i u e o Chania
(CIHEAM-MAICh) has been ins umen al in ul illing and
ad ancing he BioValue p ojec ’s mission o in eg a ing
sus ainabili y and biodi e si y in o he ood sys em. Ou
e o span cu ing-edge esea ch, dynamic s akeholde
engagemen , and c a ing inno a ion solu ions o
sus ainable, no el ood dishes and p oduc s. CIHEAM-
MAICh is deeply in ol ed in se e al c i ical componen s
o he BioValue p ojec and mo e pa icula in WP2:
Assessmen o he cu en amewo k o ag i- ood alue
chain ools (LP: EGE), WP5: No el dishes and
p ocessed p oduc s enhancing biodi e si y (LP:
CAPNUTRA), WP9: Ce i ica ion, es ing and labelling o
unde u ilized p oduc s (LP: ECOZEPT) and WP10:
Communica ion, Dissemina ion and Capaci y (LP:
AXIA)
Mo e speci ically ou con ibu ions a e ocused on he:
·Assessmen o Value Chain Tools: We e alua ed exis ing ools and iden i ied app op ia e agen -based modeling
sys ems o analyze ag i- ood alue chains. Ou wo k concen a ed on p oduc s such as ui s, oli es, g apes, cacao,
co ee, and bananas, in ol ing ex ensi e li e a u e e iews, case s udies, and con ibu ions o da abases like SCOPUS
and Web o Science.
·De elopmen o No el Food P oduc s and Leade ship in Sub ask 5.4: Recommenda ions o p ocessed ood p oduc s
using unde u ilized c ops: CIHEAM-MAICh ook a cen al ole in designing and e alua ing dishes and p ocessed
p oduc s made om unde u ilized c ops. A senso y e alua ion wo kshop was success ully o ganised wi h 27
pa icipan s o assess as e, ex u e, and o he senso y a ibu es, alongside economic and die a y usabili y
assessmen s o hese inno a i e p oduc s. Recommenda ions we e hen o mula ed, d awing on insigh s om he
design p ocess and consume p e e ence e alua ions o guide he de elopmen o no el p ocessed ood p oduc s.
·De elopmen o Labelling Schemes: We wo ked wi h s akeholde s and conduc ed in e iews o assess ma ke needs,
imp o e ce i ica ion p ocesses, and s eng hen communica ion s a egies. We es ed labelling scena ios using
consume ques ionnai es o ensu e hei p ac icali y and alignmen wi h ma ke demands.
·O ganisa ion o Wo kshops and Ou each Ac i i ies: We o ganized wo kshops and aining e en s, c ea ed audio-
isual ma e ials o dissemina ion, and led ou each e o s o highligh key achie emen s, emphasize signi ican
con ibu ions, and aise awa eness o he BioValue p ojec ’s goals and p og ess.
4
Can you elabo a e mo e on CIHEAM-
MAICh’s leade ship in Task 5.4?
As he leade o Task 5.4, ou goal was o p o ide p ac ical ecommenda ions o p ocessed ood p oduc s
explo ing he mul i ace ed p ocess o designing unde u ilised c ops – based no el p ocessed ood
p oduc s ha a e nu i ionally ich, echnologically easible, economically jus i ied, and ha ing senso y
appeal. This wo k suppo s he p ojec ’s o e a ching aim o enhancing sus ainabili y, biodi e si y, and
consume heal h while i o ges a connec ion be ween hese no el ood p oduc s and he a m,
ecognizing and highligh ing he c i ical s eps and key ac o s in ol ed in success ully na iga ing he
jou ney up o he consume ’s end.
BioValue’s sys ema ic app oach in d awing up ecommenda ions o p ocessed ood p oduc s using
unde u ilised c ops included: ecipe design and nu i ional analysis, e alua ing economic easibili y and
all ac o s’ eedback in ega d o p oduc ion/ce i ica ion, ma ke ing and labelling p ocesses.
Recommenda ions a e seen as ac ionable insigh s o s akeholde s ac oss he ag i- ood alue chain,
including policymake s, a me s, ood p ocesso s, and e aile s. They we e de eloped and amed wi hin
he 6Ms s uc u e: Me hods, Machines, Ma e ials, Manpowe , Measu emen s, and Milieu.
In addi ion o he scien i ic epo , CIHEAM MAICh wo ked ha d on simpli ying and ans o ming hose
scien i ic indings in o cap i a ing ideos and podcas s o he gene al public in he pu pose o ampli ying
he p ojec ’s impac and each. We a CIHEAM-MAICh, oge he wi h he en i e BioValue eam, belie e ha
hese ecommenda ions can se e as a solid ounda ion and a s epping s one o p omo e and encou age
he use o unde u ilized c ops, h ough consume educa ion, policy ini ia i es, and imp o ed supply chain
managemen .
2. In e iew wi h MAICh
Senso y e alua ion wo kshop a CIHEAM-MAICh’s 188 h EAAE Semina a CIHEAM-MAICh´s
5
2. In e iew wi h MAICh
How has CIHEAM-MAICh con ibu ed o enhancing
biodi e si y in ag icul u e?
CIHEAM-MAICh is dedica ed o deli e ing a mul idisciplina y app oach ha combines expe ise in ood
quali y, na u al p oduc s, and business economics o de elop sus ainable ag i- ood sys ems in he
Medi e anean and beyond. Wi h ex ensi e expe ience in biodi e si y esea ch and a s ong ocus on
imp o ing ood quali y, we ac i ely engage in aining, esea ch, and capaci y-building ini ia i es wi hin he
ag i- ood indus y. By p io i izing sus ainabili y, we p omo e local p oduc s, uphold ood quali y and
au hen ici y, and ad oca e o sus ainable ood sys ems. Ou inno a i e solu ions and unwa e ing
commi men o excellence se us apa in he ield.
This unique blend o expe ise allows CIHEAM-MAICh and he BioValue p ojec o add ess all aspec s o
he ag i- ood alue chain h ough a comp ehensi e, holis ic, and inclusi e s a egy.
CIHEAM-MAICh plays a pi o al ole in enhancing biodi e si y, a c i ical esou ce and challenge in
ag icul u e, by in eg a ing esea ch, educa ion, capaci y-building, and sus ainable p ac ices. I s e o s
ocus on he ollowing a eas:
Educa ional and Capaci y-Building P og ams: CIHEAM-MAICh de elops MSc p og ams cen e ed on
sus ainable ag icul u e, ag i- ood sys ems, biodi e si y, and landscape p o ec ion, aiming o aise
awa eness, deepen unde s anding, and c ea e inno a i e solu ions o p essing challenges. The ins i u e
also o ganizes aining ini ia i es o a me s, indus y p o essionals, and policymake s, equipping hem
wi h he knowledge and ools needed o implemen sus ainable ag icul u al p ac ices ha conse e
biodi e si y while boos ing p oduc i i y and ood secu i y.
Pionee ing Resea ch: A he o e on o biodi e si y conse a ion, CIHEAM-MAICh conduc s g ound-
b eaking esea ch on sus ainable a ming echniques and he p ese a ion o endange ed plan species
in he Medi e anean. This includes p omo ing unde u ilized local c op a ie ies, ensu ing hei su i al o
u u e gene a ions, and explo ing a ming p ac ices ha conse e na u al esou ces. By sha ing i s
esea ch indings, CIHEAM-MAICh signi ican ly con ibu es o p o ec ing and es o ing he egion’s ich
biodi e si y and p ese ing i s in aluable na u al he i age.
Ne wo king and Communi y Empowe men : CIHEAM-MAICh emphasizes sa egua ding biodi e si y and
p omo ing local p oduc s wi h unique added alue. By os e ing pa ne ships wi h s akeholde s, he
ins i u e ensu es a holis ic and inclusi e app oach o biodi e si y enhancemen . Addi ionally, by inspi ing
and empowe ing communi ies o emb ace sus ainable p ac ices, CIHEAM-MAICh no only suppo s
biodi e si y conse a ion bu also s eng hens local economies and esilience.
Th ough i s commi men o esea ch, educa ion, and collabo a ion, CIHEAM-MAICh is ins umen al in
p ese ing and enhancing biodi e si y in he Medi e anean. I s ini ia i es add ess cu en ag icul u al and
en i onmen al challenges while pa ing he way o a sus ainable and biodi e si y- ich u u e.
6
Wha unique expe ise does CIHEAM-
MAICh b ing o he BioValue p ojec ?
2. In e iew wi h MAICh
The BioValue p ojec has un eiled he exci ing po en ial o unde u ilized c ops o ans o m in o
sus ainable and comme cially iable ood p oduc s, ackling global issues such as ood secu i y and
biodi e si y conse a ion.
As we mo e o wa d, u he esea ch in o hese c ops and hei inco po a ion in o dishes and
p ocessed oods is c ucial. We a e h illed o con inue ou collabo a ion wi hin he BioValue
conso ium, aiming o b oaden esea ch on unde u ilized c ops and biodi e si y. We a e con iden
ha he g oundb eaking wo k and inspi ing ou comes o he BioValue p ojec will uel u he
collabo a ion and inno a ion, pa ing he way o a mo e sus ainable u u e.
Base o CIHEAM MAICh ins i u e in Chania, C e e, G eece
7
Wha u u e ou comes does CIHEAM-
MAICh an icipa e om he BioValue
p ojec ?
Wha is going o be cul i a ed wi hin BioValue?
Sonchus ole aceus? Tha sounds like a
'70s hi ! Bu i ’s ac ually a nu i ious
c op! Who knew i could be so impo an
o heal hy ea ing?
3. Ou Pilo cases- Sonchus Ole aceus
Se e al pilo cases ha e been designed o sp ead he
unde u ilized and gene ically di e se c ops om small
egions o islands all o e Eu ope, enhancing he
cul i a ions’ biodi e si y.
These se en pilo cases a e wa e -ene gy e icien ,
en i onmen ally esilien , highly nu i ious, an ioxidan -
ich, p o ein- ich, and glu en- ee. They ha e a high
po en ial o en e he ood alue chain and be
inco po a ed in o he consume ’s shopping lis .
[Pilo Case] #4 Sonchus Ole aceus
▶ Annual plan eaching 40-80 cm all.
▶ Lea y g een wi h high nu i ional alue
▶ Lea es a e boiled and se ed wi h lemon.
▶ Lea es a e ha es ed om ea ly au umn un il
he end o sp ing.
S a us:
Na i e o Eu ope and wes e n Asia, i g ows wild and has po en ial o expansion in o he Eu o-Med egion.
Main P ope ies:
Rich in ca o enoids and i amin C, i o e s a supe io nu ien p o ile compa ed o o he g eens.
Nu i ion/Heal h:
The young lea es a e edible, used aw in salads o cooked like spinach.
Ad an ages:
Wa e -e icien , esilien , low in calo ies, and has s ong po en ial o he ood alue chain.
Le ’s ge o know be e he lea y g een Sonchus ole aceus:
Desc ip ion
This lea y ege able om he As e aceae amily is an annual he b wi h a hollow
s em, g owing 30-100 cm all. I p e e s ull sun and a ious soil ypes, sp eading
ia wind o wa e -dispe sed seeds.
8
FOR MORE RECIPES CLICK HERE
8
Follow ou no el ecipe o p epa ing his delicious salad!
designed by ou pa ne CAPNUTRA
Ing edien s
500 g o ed po a oes
1 clo e o ga lic
120g o Gouda cheese
2 - 3 medium ee ange eggs
2 - 3 s o amix u e o basil,
dandelion and pa sley lea es
80 g o buckwhea lou
3 ablespoons o oli e oil
100g o g ound walnu s
Himalayan sal and
peppe o as e
Place washed po a oes in a medium saucepan, co e wi h cold wa e , and b ing o a boil.
Add 1 easpoon o sal , hen educe hea o a gen le simme . Cook un il o k- ende (15-
20 minu es).
D ain he po a oes and peel hem while wa m. Mash in o a la ge bowl.
Sepa a e egg yolks om egg whi es. Bea egg whi es wi h an elec ic mixe un il s i .
Finely chop basil, dandelion, pa sley, and ga lic. G a e he cheese and mix wi h he
he bs, buckwhea lou , mel ed oli e oil, and walnu s in a bowl.
Combine his mix u e wi h he mashed po a oes, hen gen ly old in he bea en egg
whi es. Season wi h sal and black peppe .
G ease a deep pan wi h oli e oil, pou in he mix u e, le el he su ace, and sp inkle wi h
emaining walnu s and cheese.
P ehea he o en o 180°C (mode a e). Bake o abou 30 minu es un il he sides a e
i m. Le cool in he pan o 5 minu es be o e ans e ing o a cooling ack.
Cooking
F om The
Hea
4. Ou Recipes – Buckwhea & Po a o Ta
9
D4.2
D11.7
Ou eam published a manusc ip i led
“Classi ica ion and S uc u al Analysis
o Value Chain Con ac s o
Biodi e si y Conse a ion in he
Eu opean Union” in Sus ainable
Fu u es. This esea ch p o ides insigh s
in o biodi e si y app oaches in
ag icul u e by examining 22 con ac s
om h ee Eu opean p ojec s.
Key Findings:
P i a e unding p edomina es, wi h
public con ibu ions mo i a ing
a me s and aising consume
awa eness.
Va ious paymen mechanisms a e
used, om p oduc p ice p emiums
o esul -based incen i es,
highligh ing lexible con ac
designs.
Species di e si y is he mos
add essed aspec , wi h a mland as
he p ima y a ge ed ecosys em.
14
Check i HERE.
Classi ica ion and s uc u al analysis o alue
chain con ac s o biodi e si y conse a ion in
he Eu opean Union
7. Mus eads- Ou La es
Publica ions
By: Ma zieh Amin a an, Luca Mulazzani, Abdallah Djella, Giulio Malo gio
16
D4.2
Ou eam ecen ly published a s udy i led
“Re ealing he Powe o G een Lea y
Vege ables: Cul i a ing Di e si y o
Heal h, En i onmen al Bene i s, and
Sus ainabili y” in Global Food Secu i y.
This a icle highligh s he mul i ace ed
bene i s o g een lea y ege ables (GLVs)
in add essing global nu i ion, ag icul u e,
and sus ainabili y challenges.
The s udy examines GLVs' bo anical
di e si y, nu i ional bene i s, and hei
socio-economic and en i onmen al
impac s, along wi h p oduc ion and
consump ion ends.
Key Highligh s:
GLVs a e ich in i amins, mine als, and
an ioxidan s.
Global p oduc ion o majo GLVs
inc eased by 69% om 2000 o 2021.
Many GLV a ie ies a e esilien o
clima e change and adap able o
a ious condi ions.
Mic og eens a e gaining popula i y o
hei nu i ional densi y and culina y
e sa ili y.
Check i HERE.
G een Lea y Vege ables' Role in Heal h and
Sus ainabili y
By: Ciha Günden, Pelin A akan , Mu a Ye can, Kons adinos Ma as and
Ma ija Knez
7. Mus eads- Ou La es
Publica ions
17
Con ac
Kons adinos Ma as
Coo dina o / Adminis a o :
ma as@au h.g
As e ios Theo ilou
Managemen issues:
as e ios@ag o.au h.g
The Conso ium
www.bio alue-p ojec .eu
in o@bio alue-p ojec .eu
@BioValue P ojec
@BioValueP ojec
@Bio alueP ojec
FORK-TO-FARM AGENT-BASED SIMULATION
TOOL AUGMENTING BIODIVERSITY IN THE
AGRI-FOOD VALUE CHAIN
F om he beginning o ou p ojec
and in o de o ensu e an e icien
and a icula e coo dina ion and
implemen a ion, he BioValue
conso ium o med he ollowing
in e nal collabo a i e eams:
Gene al Assembly: All Pa ne
Leade s o m he p ojec ’s Gene al
Assembly
Execu i e Managemen Boa d:
All Wo k package Leade s o m
he Execu i e Managemen
Boa d (EMB)
Exploi a ion and Dissemina ion
Team (EDT): AXIA [Leade ], AUTH,
CIHEAM /MAICH o m he EDT
Scien i ic In e nal Commi ee
(SIC):
AUTH [Leade ], MAICH, JLU,
CAPNUTRA o m he SIC
Da a p o ec ion o ice : P ojec ’s
Da a p o ec ion o ice is IDENER
This p ojec has ecei ed unding om he Eu opean Union’s Ho izon 2020 esea ch and
inno a ion p og amme unde he g an ag eemen numbe 101000499.
@BioValue_P ojec
@BioValue P ojec
© COPYRIGHT
