TITLE: Plant proteins
CUP CODE: B95B21005820001
Budget: € 1.350.000,00
P.I.: Prof. Vito Gallo
Bando: Supply Chain Contracts - 5th Call - Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry
Other Research Partners: Andriani S.p.A., Terre Bradaniche S.r.l., Apuliakundi S.r.l.
Brief project description:
The “Plant Proteins” project is part of the Supply Chain Contract dedicated to enhancing the legume and plant protein supply chain. The Polytechnic University of Bari contributes as a research organization, with activities aimed at introducing digital technologies, decision support systems, sensors, IoT/IoE, artificial intelligence, analytical traceability, and tools for environmental sustainability. The project integrates agricultural, industrial, and scientific expertise to improve the quality, competitiveness, sustainability, and traceability of plant protein-based products.
The “Plant Proteins” Supply Chain Program is aimed at creating an innovative model of a sustainable, competitive, and replicable agri-food supply chain, capable of enhancing the productive, territorial, technological, and organizational specificities of the entities involved. The project is based on close collaboration among agricultural businesses, agri-food processing companies, research institutions, and technology partners, with the aim of promoting an integrated system capable of generating value לאורך the entire production chain.
A central element of the Program is the adoption of the generative agriculture, promoted by Andriani S.p.A. and operationally developed by Terre Bradaniche S.r.l., which aims not only at conservation, but at the regeneration of agricultural ecosystems through the improvement of soil fertility, the protection of biodiversity, and the enhancement of sustainable agricultural production. In this context, research and field experimentation activities aimed at developing innovative, transferable, and replicable agronomic protocols in different production contexts are of particular importance.
A strategic role is played by the digital platform for supply chain monitoring and management (“Control Room”), which integrates DSS (Decision Support System) systems, advanced sensors, and data collection and analysis tools, enabling continuous monitoring of crops and the optimization of agronomic interventions. This infrastructure promotes more efficient use of resources, reducing environmental impacts and improving the sustainability of production.
The Program also enhances the role of leguminous crops within the crop rotations typical of the Apulian and Lucanian territories. The introduction of legumes in fact contributes to improving soil fertility, naturally fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, with consequent environmental and agronomic benefits.
Thanks to this integrated approach, the Program is able to strengthen the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises, ensure high standards of quality and traceability of production, promote technological innovation, and foster territorial cohesion. Further qualifying elements are represented by the enhancement of local varieties, the creation of a supply chain brand, and the adoption of voluntary certification systems aimed at guaranteeing the quality, origin, and sustainability of production.
In summary, the “Plant Proteins” Supply Chain represents an advanced model of agri-industrial integration that combines innovation, environmental sustainability, applied research, and territorial development, laying the foundations for a new generation of agri-food supply chains oriented toward the challenges of national and international markets.
Purpose:
The initiative aims to strengthen the plant protein supply chain through three main directions:
- precision agriculture and enabling 4.0 technologies;
- environmental sustainability of production;
- traceability and enhancement of local characteristics through systems equipped with artificial intelligence.
The activities aim to automate the collection and exchange of data between the field, digital systems and DSS platforms, reduce environmental impact, optimize production inputs, improve food safety and increase the commercial and nutritional value of the products.
Expected results:
Reports and protocols are expected for assessing the degree of innovation of companies, the establishment of experimental fields and monitoring systems, the creation of an IoT/IoE platform, the definition of quality control and analytical traceability protocols, the development of DSS based on machine learning for production, environmental performance and traceability, as well as reports on Carbon Footprint, Water Footprint and other environmental indicators. The enhancement of the results through patents, scientific publications, outreach activities and possible certification pathways is also envisaged, with attention to ISO 14001 and ISO 22005.
