In November 2023, the French cluster Innov’Alliance joined the European Biotech4Food project. The cluster’s integration into this new project marked a concrete step forward in its support of biotechnology stakeholders. Thanks to Biotech4Food, this support has accelerated over time, with Innov’Alliance continuously expanding its offer of biotech-related activities. In March 2024, the company COCONT joined the Biotech4Food project with its “Nutriferments Industry” project. Their project aims to develop new products from fermented legumes and cereals obtained using a new industrial solid-state fermentation technology. SADEF, specialists in agri-environmental analysis and the development of sustainable agrifood solutions, also joined Biotech4Food in January 2025. Their project seeks to develop a fermented bio-preservative to replace synthetic additives for better fruit, vegetable and fresh foodstuffs conservation. Innov’Alliance has supported both COCONT and SADEF in their integration into the European project and continues to provide support: consulting, networking, funding opportunities, etc.
Innov’Alliance also organized visits to network members working in agri-food biotechnology as part of the member profile events. In March 2024, the cluster hosted one of these events at the MEDIS joint research unit (INRAE and Clermont Auvergne University). This visit was an opportunity to discover the Digestive Environment Simulation platform, which allows for the in vitro study of the fate and/or effects on the intestinal environment of any input (ingredient, food, drug, microorganism, etc.) during the digestive process. In November 2024, another event related to the theme of agri-food biotechnology took place at VeryFoody. This morning, dedicated to healthy and sustainable plant-based alternatives, allowed participants to discover the latest advances in plant-based food formulation and explore methods for optimizing the sensory qualities of these products. Recently, the CEA Cadarache hosted a member profile event. A day of visits in February 2025 provided an opportunity to present their technological platform dedicated to microalgae and bioprocesses for various applications to Innov’Alliance members. The day also provided an opportunity to present INUM, the digital solutions integration platform (in Aix-en-Provence), and TeQPA, a technological platform for food production quality (in Quimper).
In addition to these visits, Innov’Alliance offered its members newsletters dedicated to biotechnology, with four editions in 2024 addressing this topic. In April, the work of Dr. Marie-Noëlle Rosso, Director of the Fungal Biodiversity and Biotechnology unit of Aix-Marseille University, was highlighted. The May edition of this newsletter presented the research of MétaGenoPolis, an INRAE structure specializing in the study of the intestinal microbiome, which focused on the impact of foods and dietary supplements on the intestinal microbiota. In October, a newsletter presented the work of “Alice down the rabbit hole,” a company specializing in consumer engagement and participatory processes in R&D&I. The results of their co-creation sessions, held in the context of the EU project B-Trust, were presented in a webinar organized by Innov’Alliance in April 2025.
All these activities – member support, visits, specialised newsletters – were made possible through the Biotech4Food project, and through it, Innov’Alliance is able to continuously update and expand its offer to actors interested in agrifood biotechnology innovations.
