Research Projects
Plan’Eat: EU research project for a healthier and more sustainable diet
Plan’Eat, a pioneering project under the EU research and innovation program Horizon Farm2Fork, is dedicated to studying and addressing the causes of unhealthy and unsustainable eating habits. Our aim is to promote healthier and more environmentally friendly diets by conducting comprehensive interventions with relevant stakeholders at different levels, including consumers, the food value chain, and policymakers.
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Why do we eat the way we eat?
Plan'Eat researches the variety of factors influencing the nutritional behavior of different population groups and identifies barriers that stand in the way of a healthy and sustainable diet. Unhealthy eating habits are increasingly putting a strain on health, society, and the environment. Our goal is to develop innovative solutions to promote healthy and environmentally friendly nutrition.
A multidimensional approach
In a consortium of 24 partners from 12 EU member states, Plan'Eat aims to achieve a deep understanding of the environmental, social, and health impacts of nutrition. Our holistic approach aims to develop a variety of tools to promote change across the food system. From political actions at a macroeconomic level to strategies for actors along the food value chain to promoting behavioral changes among individual consumers at a microeconomic level.
Our contribution
Our team at JLU focuses on developing and evaluating intervention packages for various population groups, including children, low-income households, and the elderly. We contribute our expertise primarily at the micro level and support other project partners in data collection and project management.
Overview
Plan'Eat spans 48 months from September 2022 to August 2026 and has a total budget of 12 million euros. We are proud to be part of this groundbreaking research project that aims for a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
DARWIN: Innovative EU research project for transparent NGT foods
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Development of detection methods for NGTs
Identifying NGT products that comply with European legislation is a challenge that creates ambiguity and reduces transparency. DARWIN will validate and provide reliable DNA-based detection methods for herbal products obtained through NGTs. This will make it possible to distinguish between DNA changes caused by natural mutations and those caused by NGT methods.
Our contribution
Our team at Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) focuses on studying consumer acceptance of NGT products in order to strengthen transparency and promote informed decisions. Through representative surveys, consumer workshops, and randomized controlled trials, we develop and evaluate intervention strategies to expand consumers' knowledge and address ethical concerns. In addition, we support the project partners in synthesizing and preparing the technological results of the project for various stakeholders.
Overview
DARWIN is supported by a consortium of 15 partners from 11 countries and extends over a period of 42 months from January 2024 to June 2027. The total budget of the project is approximately 5 million euros.
Completed Projects
- iFamily Study– Obesity and eating behaviour of children and adolescents in Europe (2012-2017)
- IDEFICS-Study – Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS (2007-2011)
- Nudge-it - The Neurobiology of Decision-Making in Eating - Innovative Tools (2014-2018)
- Trash2Cash project - Consumption of regenerated textile products (2015-2018)
- MISTRA Future Fashion I + II - Sustainable fashion consumption (2011 – 2019)