SYSTEMIC

An integrated approach to the challenge of sustainable food systems: adaptive and mitigatory strategies to address climate change and malnutrition

Background and aim

The SYSTEMIC network brought together scientists from various disciplines to collaboratively explore solutions, identify knowledge gaps, and develop strategies for transforming food systems. Although there is abundant information on improving productivity and sustainability in individual agricultural sectors, comprehensive, cross-sectoral approaches to sustainable food and agriculture remain scarce in the literature. SYSTEMIC sought to bridge this gap by developing proven strategies for creating a sustainable, resilient, and nutritious food supply that integrates both land and sea resources. Researchers from eight European countries Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, and Spain collaborated to build a network that enhances understanding of food and nutrition security in a changing environment. This collaboration emphasized knowledge and technology sharing, with national and transnational R&D projects playing a key role. The project was organized into interrelated work packages covering resource use, production, consumer preferences, nutrition, and public health. Additionally, case studies were developed to address the complexities involved in transforming food systems.
The goal of SYSTEMIC was to develop a unified vision for an integrated food system that promotes sustainability across production, consumption, and public health. By aligning with key Sustainable Development Goals specifically (2) zero hunger, (3) good health and well-being, (12) responsible consumption and production, (13) climate action, and (17) partnerships for the goals SYSTEMIC aimed to contribute significantly toward the creation of a sustainable and equitable global food system.

Key results
  1. Tools for assessing dietary intake: Are diet-tracking mobile apps suitable to estimate energy and macronutrient intake? Comparing the data obtained from the five apps available in Italy with those from the dietary software “Foodsoft 1.0” used in the last national food consumption survey, no significant differences were found in the mean values of energy and macronutrients, except for fat intakes. The selected apps could be a suitable tool for assessing dietary intake, as well as Foodsoft 1.0, and reduce the interview burden.
  2. Global Durum Panel: The Global Durum Panel (GDP) is a representative, broad and diverse collection made of 10.11 tetraploid wheat accessions consisting of durum wheat modern germplasm and landraces, along with a selection of emmer and primitive tetraploid wheat to maximize diversity. The GDP has been multiplied, deeply genetically characterized with SNP array, and made freely available to all durum wheat breeders. The GDP is a unique and ideal resource to identify and map useful genetic diversity at loci of interest.
  3. Technology efficiency and gaps in Norwegian grain farms using the stochastic metafrontier approach: the country was classified into regions with district levels of development and, hence, production technologies. The dataset used is farm-level balanced panel data for 19 years (1996–2014) with 1463 observations from 196 family farms specialized in grain production. The study used the true random effect model and stochastic metafrontier analysis to estimate region level technical efficiency (TE) and technology gap ratio (TGR) in the two main grain-producing regions of Norway. The result of the analysis shows that farmers differ in performance and technology use.
  4. Economic performance of crop-producing farms in Norway: the empirical analysis was based on a translog cost function and unbalanced farm-level panel data for 1991-2013 from the 455 crop-producing farms with 3,885 observations (1,004 observations from the central region and 2,881 observations from the eastern region). We found that the mean minimum costs were about 93% and 92% of the actual costs for crop farms in the central and eastern regions, respectively. The marginal effects of crop rotation, land tenure, off-farm activity, direct government support, and experience were positively associated with crop farm economic performance. The marginal contribution of these variables on economic performance increased in the years 2000-2013 compared with the years 1991-1999 in both regions.
  5. Climate change on Italian grasslands: Expected warming and modification of rainfall patterns will produce a reduction or disappearance of cold-tolerant species and a spread of xeric/thermophilus ones and shrubby vegetation; a general upward shift of vegetation types in mountain areas. Moreover, a general reduction of aboveground biomass is expected, as summer droughts is considered a main driver to force grassland productivity. Finally, warming and rainfall reduction are considered the main factors able to reduce forage quality and palatability of grasslands, because of the reduction of nitrogen content in the available biomass and the higher spread of less unpalatable species and shrubs.
How

The SYSTEMIC project idea is based on researchers from eight European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, and Spain) by creating a network for a better understanding of food and nutrition security in a changing environment. National and transnational collaboration in R&D projects together with the transfer of knowledge and technology are the major aim of the research teams working in this project. SYSTEMIC works on seven interrelated working packages and case studies.

Consortium

Partner Organization Partner Country
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research Norway
University of Florence Italy
University of Porto, Institute of Public Health Portugal
Ghent University Belgium
National Institute for Agricultural Research - Safety and Quality of Plant Products France
National Institute for Agricultural Research - Science and technology of milk and eggs France
National Institute for Agricultural Research - Plant and cropping System in Horticulture France
National Institute for Agricultural Research - Nutrition Physiology and Ingestive Behaviour France
National Institute for Agricultural Research - Centre for Cardiovascular and Nutrition research / Aix-Marseille University France
National Institute for Agricultural Research - Food and Digestive Microbiology to serve Health France
National Institute for Agricultural Research - Food Process Engineering and Microbiology France
Technical University of Munich, ZIEL Institute for Food and Health Else Kröner-Fresenius - Centre of Nutritional Medicine Germany
Kiel Ocean Assessment and Solution Centre at Kiel University Germany
Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research Germany
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Research Centre for Cereal and CREA-CI Giuseppe Mandolino Italy iii Industrial Crops Italy
University of Palermo - Department of Engineering Italy
University of Milan, Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences Italy
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Research Centre for Food and Nutrition Italy
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics Italy
University of Sassari/Centre for Conservation and Evaluation of Plant Biodiversity Italy
Ente Nazionale di Ricerca e promozione per la standardizzazione Italy
Libera Università di Bolzano Italy
Alta Scuola in Management ed Economia Agro-alimentare/ Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Italy
Polytechnic University of Marche - Dep. Life and Environmental Sciences Italy
Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome Italy
University of Bari Aldo Moro Italy
University of Bologna, Department of Physics and Astronomy Italy
Riga Stradins University- Dpt of Internal Diseases / Nutritionist division Latvia
Nodibinajums Baltic Studies Centre Latvia
Institute of Marine Research Norway
Centre of Marine Sciences Portugal
Rede de Química e Tecnologia - Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde Portugal
University of Porto, Faculty of Pharmacy Portugal
Institute of Mediterranean Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - University of Evora Portugal
Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Escola Superior de Biotecnologia Portugal
University of Vigo Spain
University of Valencia Spain

 

Highlights

Key Features of SYSTEMIC:

  • Assess current technologies on their feasibility to address the food challenges
  • Develop methods to assess trade-offs in support of decision and policymaking
  • Identify knowledge gaps and research needs to funding agencies and governments
  • Disseminate knowledge to industry, society, and policy, and develop and collate education and training tools

Products

Title: An Italian Case Study for Assessing Nutrient Intake through Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps
Author: Lorenza Mistura,* Francisco Javier Comendador Azcarraga, Laura D’Addezio* , Deborah Martone, Aida Turrini
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093073
Title: Occurrence of pesticides and environmental contaminants in vineyards: Case study of Portuguese grapevine canes
Author: Dorosh, O., Fernandes, V. C., Moreira, M. M., & Delerue-Matos*, C.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148395
Title: Screening of Bioactive Properties in Brown Algae from the Northwest Iberian Peninsula
Author: Silva, A., Rodrigues, C., Garcia-Oliveira, P., Lourenço-Lopes, C., Silva, S. A., Garcia-Perez, P., Carvalho, A. P., Domingues, V. F., Barroso, M. F., Delerue-Matos*, C., Simal-Gandara, J., & Prieto, M. A.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10081915
Title: Salicornia ramosissima Bioactive Composition and Safety: Eco-Friendly Extractions Approach (Microwave-Assisted Extraction vs. Conventional Maceration)
Author: Silva, A. M., Lago, J. P., Pinto, D., Moreira, M. M., Grosso, C., Cruz Fernandes, V., Delerue-Matos*, C., & Rodrigues*, F.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/app11114744
Title: Bioactive Lipids of Seaweeds from the Portuguese North Coast: Health Benefits versus Potential Contamination
Author: Soares, C., Sousa, S., Machado, S., Vieira*, E., Carvalho, A. P., Ramalhosa, M. J., Morais, S., Correia, M., Oliva-Teles, T., Domingues, V. F., & Delerue-Matos*, C.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10061366
Title: Vitamin d-fortified bread: Systematic review of fortification approaches and clinical studies.
Author: Souza, S. V. S., Borges, N., & Vieira*, E. F.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131325
Title: New insights of phytochemical profile and in vitro antioxidant and neuroprotective activities from optimized extract of Horned Melon fruit
Author: Vieira*, E. F., Podlasiak, M., Moreira, M. M., Grosso, C., Rodrigues*, F., Fernandes, V. C., & Delerue-Matos*, C.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-022-01307-3
Title: Effects of biochar on berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum, L.) growth and heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) accumulation
Author: Antonio Pescatore, Chiara Grassi, Andrea Maria Rizzo, Simone Orlandini*, Marco Napoli*
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131986.
Title: Making a Sustainable Diet Acceptable: An Emerging Programming Model With Applications to Schools and Nursing Homes Menus
Author: Benvenuti Luca* and Alberto De Santis*
Start- and endpage: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.562833
Title: Climate change impacts on the Alpine, Continental and Mediterranean grassland systems of Italy: A review
Author: Camilla Dibari*, Antonio Pulina*, Giovanni Argenti, Chiara Aglietti, Marco Bindi*, Marco Moriondo*, Laura Mula*, Massimiliano Pasqui*, Giovanna Seddaiu*, Pier Paolo Roggero*
Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/ija.2021.1843
Title: A Metafrontier Analysis on the Performance of Grain-Producing Regions in Norway
Author: Alem, Habtamu*
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/ economies9010010
Title: The Promotions of Sustainable Lunch Meals in School Feeding Programs: The Case of Italy
Author: Rossi Laura; Ferrari Marika*; Martone Deborah; Benvenuti Luca*; De Santis Alberto*
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13051571
Title: Measuring technology and performance differentials among the Norwegian dairy farms
Author: Alem, Habtamu*
Link: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-10-2019-0487
Title: Multi-indicator design and assessment of sustainable diet plans
Author: Benvenuti, L.*, De Santis, A.*, Cacchione, P.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127699
Title: Effect of Sowing Date on Bioactive Compounds and Grain Morphology of Three Pigmented Cereal Species
Author: Beleggia, R., Ficco, D.*, Nigro, F.M., Giovanniello, V., Colecchia, S.A., Pecorella, I. and De Vita, P*
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11030591
Title: Machine learning models based on remote and proximal sensing as potential methods for in-season biomass yields prediction in commercial sorghum fields
Author: Habyarimana, E*. and Baloch, F.S.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249136
Title: The Global Durum wheat Panel (GDP): an international platform to identify and exchange beneficial alleles
Author: Mazzucotelli, E.*, Sciara, G., Mastrangelo, A.M., Desiderio, F., Xu, S.S., Faris, J., Hayden, M.J., Tricker, P.J., Ozkan, H., Echenique, V., Steffenson, B.J.....Cattivelli, L.*, Bassi,F.M.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.569905
Title: Control of postharvest diseases caused by Penicillium spp. with myrtle leaf phenolic extracts: in vitro and in vivo study on mandarin fruit during storage
Author: Fadda A.*, Sarais G., Lai C., Sale L., Mulas M.*
Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsfa.11062
Title: Quantification of Total Phenols, Tannins, Anthocyanins Content in Myrtus communis L. and Antioxidant Activity Evaluation in Function of Plant Development Stages and Altitude of Origin Site
Author: Medda S., Fadda A*., Dessena L., Mulas M*
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061059
Title: Fruit Quality Characters of Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) Selections: Review of a Domestication Process
Author: Medda, S.; Mulas, M*
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168785
Title: Antimicrobial multi-component lipid-based nanoemulsion of Eucalyptus globulus and Mentha piperita as natural preservative
Author: Fathi, F.; Ebrahimi, S. N.; Salehi, P.; Safari, A.; Shahsavari, Z.; Hadian, J.; Carlos Matos, L. C.; Alves, R. C.; Oliveira*, M. B. P. P
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/01932691.2021.2021087
Title: Exploring Gunnera tinctoria: From Nutritional and Anti-Tumoral Properties to Phytosome Development Following Structural Arrangement Based on Molecular Docking.
Author: Fathi, F.; Samad N. Ebrahimi, S. N.; Valadão, A. I. G.; Andrade, N.; Costa, A. S. G.; Silva, C.; Fathi, A.; Salehi, P.; Fátima Martel, F.; Alves, R. C.; Oliveira*, M. B. P. P.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26195935
Title: Formulation of Nano/Micro-Carriers Loaded with an Enriched Extract of Coffee Silverskin: Physicochemical Properties, in vitro Release Mechanism and In Silico Molecular Modeling.
Author: Fathi, F.; Samad N. Ebrahimi, S. N.; João A. V. Prior, J. A. V.; Machado, S. M. L.; Kouchaksaraee, R. M.; Oliveira*, M. B. P. P.; Alves, R. C.,
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14010112

Communication & Dissemination Activities

Target groupAuthorsMeans of communicationHyperlink
Researchers, policy makers, enterpricesMarco Bindi*, Applying an integrated approach to the challenge of sustainable food systems: insights from the SYSTEMIC project,MINDS Foods Hub-Milano, 21st September, 2021Prof. Marco Bindi has presented the project Systemic during the conferences "Mind foods Hub" Ricerca AgroalimentareLink
Scientists, researchersL.F.P. Rodríguez, G.Secci, F. Gai, G. Maricchiolo, G. Parisi*, Effect of dietary Hermetia illucens larvae meal on triglyceride composition of sea bream fillets, 24th Congress of the animal Science and production association, Animal science and Society concerns, September 21-24, Padova (Italy)Analyze the fatty acid profiles of total lipids, triglycerides and of the fatty acid in the sn 2 position in fillets from gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L.) fed Hermetia illucens larvae meal.Link
Scientists, policy makersAlem, Habtamu (2021). Applying an integrated approach to the challenge of sustainable food systems: insights from the SYSTEMIC project. 6th JPI HDHL International Conference. April 20- 21, 2021To present the project SystemicLink
 Alem, Habtamu (2020). Structuration and activities of the Knowledge Platform lessons from the SYSTEMIC project. 2020 Virtual meeting with FOSC funders. 21. September 2020To present the project Systemic to FOSC membersLink
 L. Bassolino*, G. Bianchi*, M. Buccheri*, L. D’Addezio*, P. De Vita*, D. B. M. Ficco*, E. Habyarimana*, L. Mistura*, D. Pacifico,* K. Petroni*, R. Paris* and G. Mandolino* (2021) CLIMAQUALITEC – Agricultural biotechnology for nutrition quality of food crops in different agro-climate scenario. Challenges and perspectives in Potato and Cereal crops LXIV Congress of the Italian Society of Agricultural Genetics (SIGA) 14-16 September, 2021Presentation of the CLIMAQUALIITEC realized under SYSTEMIC project (Poster)Link
 Leonardo Ricciardi*. BEYOND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: Integration trends of Blockchain Technology for research management in Food Science, 17th June 2021, LisbonaWebinar on the application of Blockchain technology for food productionLink
 A.B. Peixoto, N. Andrade, S. Machado*, A.S.G. Costa, M.B.P.P. Oliveira*, F. Martel, R.C. Alves, Influence of a coffee silver skin extract on glucose intestinal transports: an apparent synergism between caffeine and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (oral communication). ISEKI E-conference. Food texture, quality, safety, and biosecurity in the global bioeconomy, November 12th 2021oral communication about the positive effect of coffee silverskin in preventig metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes.Link
Scientists, researchersM. Sousa, M.A. Nunes, J.C. Lobo, J.D. Palmeira, S. Machado*, D. Melo, A.S.G. Costa, R.C. Alves, H. Ferreira, M.B.P.P. Oliveira*. Heat-treated olive pomace paste: a safe edible ingredient for the food industry (oral communication). ISEKI E-conference. Food texture, quality, safety, and biosecurity in the global bioeconomy, November 12th, 2021Oral communication about olive pomace paste heat-treated chemical composition and it's microbiological safetyLink
ScientistsO. Jorge, A.S.G. Costa, M.B.P.P. Oliveira*. Prickly pear: nutritional differences between an irrigated and a not irrigated culture (oral communication). ISEKI E-conference. Food texture, quality, safety, and biosecurity in the global bioeconomy, November 12th, 2021posterLink
ScientistsEspírito Santo, L. Kocanová, A.O. Jorge, A.S.G. Costa, A. Almeida, M.B.P.P. Oliveira*. Mineral profile of four varieties of Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes. ISEKI E-conference. Food texture, quality, safety and biosecurity in the global bioeconomy, November 12th, 2021posterLink
ScientistsEspírito Santo, A. La Rocca, M. Sousa, A.S.G. Costa, M.A. Nunes, R.C. Alves, A. Almeida, M.B.P.P. Oliveira*. Mineral profile of olive pomace from different crops in Portugal. ISEKI E-conference. Food texture, quality, safety and biosecurity in the global bioeconomy, November 12th, 2021posterLink
ScientistsAndrade, L. Espírito Santo, J.A.B. Peixoto, C. Silva, R.C. Alves, M.B.P.P. Oliveira*, F. Martel. Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller cladodes: effect on different types of cancer cell lines. ISEKI E-conference. Food texture, quality, safety, and biosecurity in the global bioeconomy, November 12th, 2021posterLink

Features

Project number:
SYSTEMIC
Duration: 100%
Duration: 100 %
2020
2024
Project lead and secretary:
Dr. Habtamu Alem, Prof. Dr. Marco Bindi, Dr. Duarte Torres
Responsible organisation:
The Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research / University of Florence / University of Porto, Norway / Italy / Portugal