On July 7, 2025, the Excel4Pro consortium gathered in Athens, Greece, for the first official project meeting. This first meeting, hosted at the Library and Information Center of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), offered an inspiring and well-equipped environment for fruitful discussions regarding the completed activities of the first semester and all future steps.
Reviewing Progress and Refining strategic priorities
During the meeting, project partners had the opportunity to present the progress made so far, evaluate key milestones, and engage in discussions about ongoing tasks. The team also focused on refining the roadmap for the next phases of the project, ensuring alignment with the overall objectives and timelines. Special focus was also placed on the selection of model crops and processing approaches to be implemented under Excel4Pro. This discussion drew upon the outcomes of key activities completed during the first semester, including:
- Desk studies completed in each HUB/country
- Selection of crops to be examined
- Lab scale processing validation & tests
Valuable insights were shared during the meeting, including the unweighted scores for legumes, oilseeds, and mushrooms across the three pilot countries. Based on the analysis results, the partners agreed on which ingredients from these three categories they will prioritize for further investment and analysis. Specifically, the partners selected chickpeas and lupin for the legumes category, sunflower and pumpkin seeds for the oilseeds, and champignon for the mushrooms.
In the coming months, Excel4Pro will launch an Open Call targeting the three Ecosystem Countries, aiming to attract sub-projects and start-ups that align with the project’s strategic focus. The Open Call will invite applications in three key areas:
- Protein Structure–Function Relationship
- Nutritional Quality
- Process Design
The objective is to support the development of innovative, sustainable food products by providing financial support to start-ups and SMEs working at the forefront of food system transformation.
Shaping the future of food with plant-based proteins
With the first semester of the project now successfully completed, the Excel4Pro team is energized and optimistic about the future. The consortium remains committed to its mission of transforming the agri-food sector, with a particular focus on identifying, analyzing, and characterizing plant-based proteins that hold the potential to revolutionize the development of novel, sustainable food products.
Special thanks go to NTUA for their warm and great hospitality and excellent organisation. Their support was instrumental in making this meeting a productive and enjoyable experience for all participants.
