Zero hidden hunger EU, funded by Horizon Europe, aims to estimate the true prevalence and health costs of micronutrient deficiencies among high-risk groups across Europe. By leveraging existing data and advanced dietary modeling, the project seeks to develop tailored solutions to ensure adequate vitamin and mineral intake from sustainable diets.
Goals
- Accurately measure micronutrient deficiency prevalence and related health costs in diverse European populations, focusing on vulnerable population groups.
- Develop tailored, sustainable, food-based strategies that address the root causes of micronutrient deficiencies across Europe.
- Provide robust evidence to guide policymakers and food system actors in eradicating micronutrient deficiencies across Europe.
Implementation
The work plan of Zero Hidden Hunger EU is organized into four pillars engaging the expertise and of the 20 participating organizations from across Europe.
The first pillar focuses on collecting and analysing biomarker and dietary intake data from over one million individuals across 26 European countries. The second pillar uses these data to model the true prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies, identify risk factors through e.g. machine learning, and estimate health and economic costs, including the impact of inaction.
Building on this knowledge, the third pillar develops sustainable, affordable dietary strategies to eradicate deficiencies, while investigating bioavailability, metabolism, and novel metabolomic markers of selected nutrients. Finally, the fourth pillar drives impact through policy engagement, education, and training, ensuring that evidence-based solutions are implemented effectively across Europe.
Funding
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101137127) and is co-funded by UK Research and Innovation and the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation.
Partners
The project is being coordinated by University College Cork, Ireland. The project gathers partners from 12 European countries in a collaboration between top universities and research centres, as well as expert non-profit organisations and the private sector:
- Centre international de recherche sur le cancer
- Charokopeio Panepistimio
- Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red M.P. / Fundació Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)
- Crowdhelix Limited
- Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
- European Food Information Council
- European Food Information Ressource AISBL
- European Public Health Alliance
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
- Institut za medicinska istrazivanja Ivanja
- Max-Rubner-Institut Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ernaehrung und Lebensmittel
- Quadram Institute Bioscience
- Ravitsemuksen ja terveyden tutkimusinstituutti Oy
- REM Analytics SA
- Swiss Nutrition and Health Foundation (SNHF)
- Syddansk Universitet
- UCC Academy Designated Activity Company
- University of Surrey
- Wageningen University
Contact details
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