PROJECT R&D+I

TITLE
TRUE - TRANSITION PATHS TO SUSTAINABLE LEGUME BASED SYSTEMS IN EUROPE

HIGHLIGHTS
Identify constraints and lock-ins that hinder the realization of functional food and feed
chains, and identify routes to transition for a range of legumes and farm networks across
Europe.

ABSTRACT
TRUE - (TRansition paths to sUstainable legume based systems in Europe) is a 22 partner
consortium covering business and society actors from legume commodity production, processing,
and citizens. TRUE is underpinned by science excellence in the natural and social sciences, and
humanities. The main aim of TRUE is to identify and enable transition paths to realise successful
legume-supported production systems and agri-feed and -food chains. This is achieved via: a true
multi-actor approach that balances environmental, economic- and social-securities by minimising
environmental impact; optimising diversity and resilience in commercial and environmental terms
throughout the supply chain; and delivery of excellent nutrition to ensure the highest possible
states of health and wellbeing for people and animals.

TRUE will achieve this using a series of 15 farm networks and 7 supply chain focused innovation
Case Studies to characterise key mechanisms and associated ecosystem services indicators. This
will empower the production of popular and novel legume-based products on the basis of
improved market perspectives and capabilities, including short supply chains. Advanced
mathematical approaches using Life Cycle Analysis, and socioeconomic and multi-attribute
modelling will create unique Decision Support Tools to identify optimal transition paths to ensure
legume supported systems are profitable from the push, of production, to the pull of upstream
supply chains, markets and consumers.

Critically, the TRUE approach will also advise and empower policy amendments that promote
uptake of new farming, processing, manufacturing and retailing practices, in line with the societal
considerations of the Responsible Research and Innovation model: policy decision making with
state-of-the-art science-based information. The TRUE approach is also augmented by an
Intercontinental Advisory Board of 10 international experts in legume supply chain and policy from
around the world.

KEYWORDS
Food Chain, Case Studies, Legumes, Life Cycle Analysis, Policy Decision

PROMOTERS / PARTNERS
Escola Superior de Biotecnologia Universidade Catlica Portuguesa (Portugal); James Hutton Institute
(Coordinator) (UK); Herdade do Freixo do Meio (Portugal); Eurest (Portugal); Solintagro S.L. (Spain); Bangor
University (UK); Trinity College Dublin (Ireland); The Processors and Growers Research Organisation (UK);
 PROJECT R&D+I

FINANCING PROGRAM EXECUTION DATE GLOBAL BUDGET

Horizont2020 2017-2021 4 999 927,50

CONTACTS E-MAIL PHONE

Marta Vasconcelos mvasconcelos@porto.ucp.pt +351 22 558 0040