THE DRG4FOOD PROJECT
BOOSTING TRUST, TRANSPARENCY, AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THE
DIGITAL FOOD SYSTEM
Food safety and security, sustainability, reduction of food waste and fairness throughout the food chain are at the heart of Europe’s food strategy. To address these challenges and promote greater trust, transparency and responsibility in the food chain, the EU-funded DRG4FOOD project aims to develop and demonstrate a set of innovative solutions through an open funding program, primarily concentrating on piloting scientifically and technologically advanced solutions in three key use case areas of:
Consumer food choices, Targeted nutrition and Food tracking.
To further support the creation of value through a data-driven food system that is transparent and responsible, the project further aims to set new standards by taking orientation in the European Digital Rights and Principles and the Digital Responsibility Goals.
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THE CORE CHALLENGES
The other challenge is that of a rogue digital world in a rapidly evolving, complex technological, social and economic landscape. To trust that the adoption of new technologies is contributing to making our lives safer, easier, less complex and more sustainable currently requires a strong belief. Yet, given a legacy of data breaches, data misuse and manipulation, identity theft and biased AI decisions, technology adoption today is viewed with growing caution. In fact, the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust in Technology reveals that trust in tech, globally, is down 4 per cent year after year, particularly in sectors like AI, IoT and 5G.
To truly design for trust, the entire chain of activities and underlying assumptions towards developing technology need to be more firmly based on fundamental values such as responsibility, privacy and user control—especially when dealing with valuable and sensitive food data. The starting point, thus, needs to be the user and their values rather than a business model or (legitimate) state interests.
THE DRG4FOOD TOOLBOX
The DRG4FOOD toolbox is at the heart of the DRG4FOOD project; providing a reference catalogue of predominantly open-source technology enablers and solutions, that have been mapped to a framework of digital food system (technical) capabilities and requirements and are further underpinned by the guiding principles of a Digital Responsibility Goals framework.
This responsible technology toolbox aims primarily to inspire DRG4FOOD project participants in the design and development of digitally responsible Food System solutions, as well as in ensuring that responsibility goals are adequately maintained throughout the product lifecycle. The DRG4FOOD toolbox is also provided as a public reference aimed at a wider audience of potential users and contributors beyond the project.
As a ‘living document’ the first iteration of the DRG4FOOD launched in the first year of the DRG4FOOD project will continue to be updated throughout the timeline of the project. Existing enablers may be revised and new enablers and solutions added; including enablers and solutions developed during the course of the DRG4FOOD project and in particular the output of the Open Calls.
