Taste properties are vital to humans: they impact human survival, nutrition, health and well-being. The problem of unpleasant taste properties, namely bitter- or astringent-tasting compounds is emerging in many diverse research fields. Beyond the obvious interest in food science, nutrition, and in the improvement/selection of crops, also human taste disorders and drug discovery domains could also benefit from research on astringency and bitterness. Crossing the boundaries among different fields, BeTASTy goes beyond the current state-of-the-art of food-oriented researches to respond to the prominent challenges on astringency and bitterness. This proposal will provide an in-depth mechanistic and functional understanding into the MAIN PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL EVENTS triggering the physiological and neural perception of astringency by an innovative approach considering the main oral key pieces namely salivary proteins, epithelia and emphasizing the role of mechanoreceptors on that sensation. BeTASTy will also unveil how, for some compounds, astringency and bitterness CAN GO TOGETHER by an innovative all-in-one model. Additionally, the individual features that account for sensory differences will be deepened by a pioneering approach based on human organoids and electroencephalography. The final goal, will be the creation of cutting-edge CELL-FREE BIOSENSORS based on the identified orally active mechano- and bitter taste receptors to assess astringency and bitterness respectively, and by overcoming the main drawbacks of the existing (cell-based) ones. Endowed with a truly differentiated and disruptive character, this groundbreaking project will engage food chemistry, biochemistry, neuroscience, sensory analysis and biotechnology fields of research to outdo the state-of-the-art. Only an ambitious and multidisciplinary proposal will yield scientific breakthroughs on the BIOCHEMICAL-NEURAL-PERCEPTUAL TRIAD EVENTS of these taste properties which will eventually enable to tailor them

In the landscape of wearable electronics, there is a demand for self-powered systems to address the challenges posed by discontinuous and limited power supply. Low-grade heat and moisture are two ubiquitous clean energy sources with great potential for electrical energy production. 2-in-1 technologies combining thermal or moisture-induced energy harvesting (EH) with electrochemical energy storage (ES) are attractive self-charging solutions for wearables. However, their performance remains inconsistent and unsteady. The understanding of the underlying EH and ES mechanisms remains fragmented, without considering synergistic opportunities. SelfEnergyDriver proposes a PIONEER HYBRID textile technology UNIFYING moisture-triggered EH, thermal EH and supercapacitive ES. This groundbreaking 3-in-1 concept aims for the self-sustained harvesting of two clean energy sources and simultaneous in situ storage of the captured energy. Non-toxic multifunctional hybrid electrode nanomaterials with 3D porous architecture, redox-active nature and precisely engineered moisture permeability, thermal and electrochemical properties will be developed to comply with all EH/ES requirements. These hybrids will be incorporated in textiles and assembled with advanced redox-active ionic hydrogel polyelectrolytes in innovative device architectures. SelfEnergyDriver will delve into the intricacies of electrodes, electrolytes, and their interfaces, to guide the rational design of these trailblazing technologies and foster cooperative effects for synergistically-enhanced outputs. The supreme goal will be bridging the knowledge gap between electrode/electrolyte properties, interface phenomena, device architecture and performance. As a proof-of-concept, the 3-in-1 technologies will be tested under simulated real-world conditions, to showcase their potential to revolutionize the landscape of wearable energy systems. The acquired knowledge will set new landmarks in clean energy, textronics and sensing.

BiomeHealth aims to strengthen European and Portuguese R&I on agro-food systems that face climate change and new/recurrent pathogens, with the support of Wageningen Univ. & Research (WUR, NL) and Bologna Univ. (UNIBO, IT). Global trade and climate change favor the establishment of new pathogens in Europe. Portugal needs to boost R&I and education/training to empower a new generation of researchers in this field. BiomeHealth has two R&I objectives, and four capacitation objectives aligned with the Twinning call. WUR (precision pathogens detection), and UNIBO [VOC-biosensors, Biological Control Agents, and SynComs] will develop R&I and capacitation of the widening partner, Requimte/UP that leads the national research in agrifood. This capacitation networking will use groundbreaking concepts of plant microbiome, precision detection, and engineering of synthetic communities (SynComs) of BCAs (supported by artificial intelligence, AI). BiomeHealth structure has six interdependent WPs: WP1 is for Coordination and Management; WP2 deals with R&I on precision detection and control of phytobiomes also challenged by climate change (as a case study we will use Pear/Apple trees under an RCP8.5 climatic scenario, and challenged with Erwinia amylovora, and Stemphylium vesicarium). New detection tools/matrices (e.g., aerobiomes), dynamics host-microbiome-pathogen, and SynComs, will be unveiled/tested for the RCP8.5 condition. WP3 (precision detection) and WP4 (Control using SynComs) are dedicated to the capacitation of Requimte/UP, with dedicated short-term visits, training/advanced courses, summer schools, etc. WP5 will build a sustainable structure through a R&I roadmap of Requimte/UP for 2030, and the creation of a Centre of Plant Pathogen Detection and Control. Finally, WP6 deals with dissemination/communication. This 36-month twinning will boost the precision detection/control of diseases in Portugal, increasing its networking competitiveness and international recognition.

Current food production systems face many challenges (climate change, rampant demographic development) and new sustainable approaches are urgent. Wheat is a central crop in Europe and soil and plant microbial communities are of particular interest in wheat crops since (1) they are crucial solutions for restoring soils and protecting the crops and wheat-derived products against pathogens; (2) they play a key role in regulating plant metabolisms and, thus, the quality and properties of crops; and (3) they can be promising producers for a wide range of nutritional and healthy food and feed products. However, more studies on wheat microbiomes are needed as the current data is scarce. The WHEATBIOME project will contribute in the understanding of the role of the wheat microbiome on sustainable development by undertaking cutting-edge research with strong collaboration between academia, industry, food system actors and governmental authorities distributed along 6 EU countries, and will explore the role of microbiomes in wheat production systems in a broad approach from soil to plate to: • Understand the effect of biotic/abiotic factors on wheat microbiomes with 2 case studies and a lab-scale demonstrator. • Unravel the soil-plant microbiome cross-talking on wheat metabolism and nutritional quality, and deliver sustainable farming practices for resilient and nutritious wheat crops via a new decision support system (DSS). • Discover new fermentation capacities within indigenous wheat microbiomes and develop novel foods and feeds. • Study the role of microbial fermentations in food/feed quality and reduce food waste by recirculating wheat by-products. • Determine the interactions between wheat (prebiotics, probiotics, bioactive compounds, immunogenic proteins, etc.) and the human/animal microbiota, and its effect on human and animal health. • Assess the perception of food system actors and citizens about microbiomes within food systems.

Contributing to the CCRI project portfolio, CisWEFE-NEX will demonstrate the implementation of a circular systemic WEFE Nexus, an innovative, fully integrated, & sustainable approach applying the principles of circular economy for closing loops in the key value chains of food, water & nutrients in severely water stressed regions: 1. Water: - A net positive freshwater balance to the water cycle (JRC 2021) will be achieved through combining olive mill wastewater reuse (as a co-product from biophenols extraction) with saltwater desalination at scale without using fossil fuels for use as drinking & irrigation water. - Waste streams from desalination (brine & bitterns) will be repurposed in nature-based solar saltworks as table & Epsom salt, made possible because of zero chemical use in the desalination process. 2. Energy: - Cutting-edge renewable energy technologies will be developed & demonstrated to achieve a net-zero direct fossil GHG emissions process. - Agri-photovoltaics (crops under PV panels) and biogas from advanced (ultrasonic cavitation assisted) anaerobic digestion fed from olive mill & other biowastes. 3. Food: - Innovative nature-based techniques will be demonstrated to enable truly sustainable, healthy, and fresh food & seaweed (containing bioactive compounds for pharma use) production at scale. - Saltwater integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (free of growth hormones, antibiotics, synthetic fertilisers, & preservatives). - Regenerative agriculture (organic permaculture reusing precious water & nutrients) and extractive reuse of biophenols from olive mill waste as bioactive products of very high nutri-pharmaceutical value. 4. Ecosystems: - Monitoring of traditional & emerging (micro)pollutants using cutting-edge analytics will prevent harmful impacts on the environment & food grown from it with predictive alerts & remedies through a mobile controlled cavitation unit providing (waste)water treatment services (advanced oxidation processes, disinfection).