One Standard,
One Database,
Better Food for All
INFOTECH-DATA brings together food scientists and data experts across Europe to standardise how food ingredient functionality is measured and shared. By building open-access databases and common methodologies, we accelerate the development of healthy, sustainable, and affordable food products — together.
WG 1
Validation & long-term strategy
WG 2
Review & definition of functionalities
WG 3
Method standardisation
WG 4
Data infrastructure & management
WG 5
Dissemination and engagement
Where food science meets open data
About Us
COST Action CA24145
The food industry still relies on trial-and-error product development, which is too slow to meet urgent needs for sustainable, affordable, healthy and biodiversity-friendly foods. Each company or research group uses its own methods to assess techno-functional properties like solubility, foaming, gelling and emulsifying, leading to inconsistent data, which is non-reusable for predictive modelling purposes. The lack of standardised methods and shared databases prevents the creation of predictive models that could accelerate product innovation. Although other fields have been transformed by data science and AI revolutions, food science lags behind, mainly due to poor data comparability, missing metadata, and limited accessibility. Community building around harmonised methods and data sharing is missing, which is essential for long-term success in food development and impact.
Standardisation of methods:
Identify key techno-functionalities of food ingredients (e.g., solubility, gelation, emulsifying, foaming) that need harmonisation. Develop simple yet robust, accurate standard methods applicable across academia and industry. Validate these methods through large-scale international ring trials.
Data infrastructure and management:
Develop metadata standards to capture essential variables. Build a FAIR open-access database for techno-functionality data. Design user-friendly workflows for data entry, storage and re-use.
Community and capacity building:
Form a global network connecting food scientists, data scientists, and industry to support the development of methodologies and the collection and sharing of data. Empower Young Researchers and Innovators (YRIs) via training programmes and mobility grants.
Long-term strategy and impact:
Develop a strategic roadmap to maintain and expand the INFOTECH-DATA methodologies beyond the Action. Build links with existing infrastructures, platforms and initiatives. Identify research gaps and turn them into EU-level research proposals and projects.
From Ingredients to Insights
Standardising food techno-functionality data to accelerate sustainable product innovation across Europe
One Community. One Standard. Endless Possibilities.
Bringing together food scientists, data experts, and industry partners to build the first open-access techno-functionality database.
CA24145
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