LED&MAT

Projects

DESCARBONIZA

Decarbonization of the Agri-Food Sector

Challenge

Accelerating the transition of the Portuguese agri-food sector towards a more sustainable and efficient production model, aligned with the decarbonisation objectives defined at national and European levels. This sector, which is particularly relevant within the national economic structure and largely composed of SMEs, is characterised by high energy consumption—especially related to thermal processes, refrigeration, and intensive use of resources—resulting in a significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The limited dissemination of low‑carbon technologies and the difficulty in assessing their technical and economic viability in real‑world contexts constitute additional barriers to the shift in the energy and production paradigm of these companies.

Solution / Main Objective

This project aims to empower and mobilise the business community to effectively adopt decarbonisation solutions, promoting knowledge transfer, the practical demonstration of technologies, and the promotion of best practices tailored to the reality of SMEs. In this way, it seeks to create the conditions for a structural transformation of the agri-food sector, strengthening its competitiveness and resilience and enhancing its alignment with carbon neutrality objectives, while simultaneously promoting a more efficient and sustainable use of resources throughout the entire value chain.

Objectives, Activities and Expected/Achieved Results

The project develops training, demonstration, and dissemination activities focused on low-carbon solutions for SMEs in the agri-food sector, including the preparation of practical guidelines, the delivery of training sessions, and the presentation of innovative technologies. As expected outcomes, the project aims to increase companies’ knowledge and ability to act in the field of decarbonisation, promoting the adoption of energy efficiency and circular economy measures, with a positive impact on emissions reduction and on strengthening the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector.

Project Reference

COMPETE2030-FEDER-03128600

Funding

Intervention Region

Portugal

IPN Investment

209.597,93

Total Eligible

1.428.169,18

EC Funding – Total

1.213.943,80

EC Funding – IPN

178.158,24

Duration

24 Months

Start Date

01/02/2026

End Date

31/01/2028

Approval Date

2025-09-29

Consortium

PortugalFoods – Associação Para a Internacionalização e Inovação Agroalimentar
INOVCLUSTER – Associação do Cluster Agro-Industrial do Centro
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Universidade do Minho
Associação Colab4Food – Laboratório Colaborativo Para a Inovação da Indústria Agroalimentar
Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN)
Associação Universidade – Empresa para o Desenvolvimento – TecMinho

Keywords

Decarbonization;
Agri-food Sector;
Sustainability;
Training.