CO-FRESH (Faba bean case) (Project)
CO-FRESH is a European Horizon 2020 project focused on agri-food value chains for fruit and vegetables, including high-protein crops. It brings together 26 partners from 10 countries and works through seven pilot cases to test how technological and non-technological innovations can improve sustainability, competitiveness, and balance across the chain. The project’s approach is collaborative and system-oriented: it studies existing innovative value chains, co-creates redesigns with stakeholders, pilots those changes, and assesses their environmental, social, and economic effects. CO-FRESH positions itself as a practical innovation platform for making food chains more sustainable while also supporting replication beyond the pilot cases. Core Values Sustainability : The project aims to improve environmental performance while also strengthening social and economic outcomes across agri-food chains. Collaboration : CO-FRESH is built around co-creation between farmers, processors, researchers, associations, and other stakeholders. Innovation : It combines technological, organisational, managerial, social, and institutional innovations rather than relying on a single type of change. Competitiveness with balance : The project seeks value chains that are not only greener, but also economically viable and more fairly balanced among actors. Unique Aspects EU-funded multi-country consortium : CO-FRESH is a Horizon 2020 project funded under grant agreement No. 101000852 and implemented by 26 partners across 10 countries. Seven real-world pilot cases : The project works through seven pilot value chains spanning fruits, vegetables, legumes, protein crops, mushrooms, and greenhouse produce in six EU countries. Intervention Research methodology : CO-FRESH uses Intervention Research, meaning it studies and implements change at the same time, rather than only observing from the outside. Strong replication focus : Beyond the pilots, the project creates toolkits, business cases, and policy outputs intended to help other agri-food actors replicate the approaches. Cross-chain innovation scope : Its work spans the full chain from farm to processing to consumer, with attention to transparency, farmer benefits, and consumer acceptance.