Here the term ‘box’ means ‘mobile container unit’. This includes all necessary equipment to mildly process fruit and vegetables close to the farm. The FOX project aims to find innovative processing solutions that are compact, mobile and flexible, meaning they can be stored in a container moved within a region from farmer to farmer and they can be used for different types of harvested fruit and vegetables. Within the project, 3 types of mobile container units will be developed. Discover the inside of the juice processing mobile container.
In total, 25 partners collaborate to develop the FOX project. These are universities, research institutions, small to medium enterprises (SMEs), industries and associations locating in different European countries. Each partner works on a different part of the project (work packages). Partners from different work packages (WPs) regularly share their work and findings. Click here for an overview of all partners.
The FOX project is still at a research stage and only the concept has been developed. Some of the 3 containers have already been designed and the prototypes are currently being developed. In 2023, all prototypes will be available and demonstrations will take place in the different regions across Europe (Food Circles).
Some food processing containers already exist in Europe. However, the ones that will be developed during the FOX project are different as they used mild and innovative food processing technologies like vacuum spiral filter, Pulsed Electric Field (PEF), Ultrasounds and more. Thus, the processed fruits and vegetables have better quality and the process become more environment friendly as these technologies use less energy.
In addition, some of the partners are also developing sustainable packaging for the final products and are also thinking about ways to reuse fruit and vegetable by-products such as green peas and carrot pomace. To maximise the longevity of the Food Circles for farmers as well as consumer engagement, research is done around business models and consumer studies. In addition, the impact on health, environment and socio-economy will be assessed to ensure the sustainability of the FOX concept.
To finish, FOX is unique because the project follows a general approach called the “multi-actor approach” set up by the European Commission some years ago. In which the project make sure end-users, e.g. farmers, consumer or companies, and multipliers as associations, cooperatives or advisors are fully engaged during the whole project and contribute to it. FOX is an inter- and transdisciplinary project as it also bring together on a scientific level all these experts serving the multi-actor approach: food technologist, engineers, economist, environmental scientist, consumer scientist, food chemist, bioengineers, innovation manager and many more.
The food circles are the link of a specific FOX processing technology with a regional (short) food supply chain. Different geographical regions were chosen with important fruit and vegetable production in Europe, to demonstrate the technical, economic and social viability of the FOX approach. The largest fruit-cultivating areas in Europe are in Spain, Italy and Poland, with France also dominating strongly in vegetable cultivation. In the fruit and vegetable processing sector, Germany and the Netherlands are also leading in addition to the above mentioned countries.
The food circle chosen are in six model regions in Europe and these regions are closely linked to the research project partner developing the respective processing technology (or: FOX technology). Essential was to build on a good existing network with regional stakeholders for demonstration activities. Hence the model regions have a geographical proximity to the respective FOX research partner.
Furthermore, to increase the impact of FOX and also to demonstrate the results on a broader scope the project is building up associated partner regions with similar geographical, growing and/or structural parameters as the model regions. If you are interested to become an associated partner region, please join the FOX Interest Group here.
The 4-year project was launched in June 2019 and runs until November 2023.
The acronym FOX stands for Food Processing in a bOX. It is not related to the animal.
Are you interested in small scale food processing? Become part of the FOX Small Scale Food Processors Interest Group to collaborate, share your expertise and be the first to try out a new way of food production through demonstrations and workshops. You can also join the FOX LinkedIn group to share your experience and discover the latest news of the project, as well as trends and events in the sector.
If you have any question about the FOX project, please refer to the contact page.