Faculty of Biotechnology joins €2.2 million European project to accelerate the adoption of plant-based foods

Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), through the Faculty of Biotechnology and the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), will participate in the European project ISAAP – Innovative Strategies to Accelerate Adoption and Consumption of Plant-Based Food, which has received €2.2 million in funding from the European Union.

Officially launched on 3 September 2025, the project is promoted under the EIT Food Impact Funding Framework and will run until August 2027, involving partners from Portugal, Denmark and Czechia.

The main goal is to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable and healthier food systems by encouraging the adoption and consumption of plant-based foods. To this end, ISAAP will support the creation and dissemination of innovative strategies, inspired by Denmark’s National Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods, and adapt them to other European countries.

In Portugal, ProVeg Portugal will be responsible for disseminating information to the media and communication channels, working closely with agricultural organisations such as the Confederação dos Agricultores de Portugal (CAP) and CERPRO.

Universidade Católica Portuguesa will play a key role in the development of innovative new legume-based products, strengthening the connection between agriculture, research and industry.

In Czechia, the project will involve ProVeg Czechia, which will focus on expanding the availability of plant-based meals in the foodservice sector, working with partners such as Catering Zdravě and supporting the growth of the New Food Forum, a flagship event for the sector.

With this initiative, UCP and its European partners reinforce their commitment to promoting more resilient, healthy and sustainable food systems, aligned with the goals of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy.