Strengthening the European Food Chain: The Launch of the ACT4FOOD Cybersecurity Initiative

On February 9, 2026, the European Union officially inaugurated the ACT4FOOD project, a strategic initiative designed to bolster the cyber-resilience of the continent's food supply chain. This comprehensive program addresses security vulnerabilities across the entire lifecycle of food products, from initial agricultural production through to final consumer delivery. Funded under the European Union’s Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL), the project brings together a consortium of 11 partners spanning eight different nations, highlighting the cross-border nature of modern cybersecurity challenges in the agri-food industry.

The coordination of this multinational effort is spearheaded by INNOV-ACTS Limited, a Cyprus-based firm renowned for its expertise in ICT and business consultancy. Scheduled to run for a duration of 36 months, the project aims to mitigate the specific digital vulnerabilities that have emerged as a byproduct of the sector's rapid technological integration and digitalization. The technical backbone of ACT4FOOD is supported by a diverse group of research and technology organizations, including Maggioli S.p.A., the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (UPCT), CREME Software Ltd, Montimage EURL, Ianus Technologies Ltd, and Agritrack Lyseis Technologias A.E., ensuring a high level of technical expertise throughout the project's lifecycle.

To ensure that theoretical advancements translate into practical security, the project will undergo rigorous validation at real-world operational sites. These pilot locations include the GR Family Farm representing the processing sector, Obedineni Akvakulturi OOD (United Aquaculture) representing producers, and METRO A.E. representing the retail landscape. By integrating developers, academic researchers, and end-users into a single framework, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and commercial deployment, a core objective that aligns with the broader goals of the Digital Europe Programme.

This initiative arrives at a critical juncture, responding directly to heightened regulatory concerns regarding food stability. In 2025, the European Commission officially designated cyber threats as the most significant risk factor facing the EU’s food security. Supporting data reveals that between July 2024 and 2025, approximately 18% of all recorded cybersecurity incidents specifically targeted operational technology (OT) systems. This alarming trend is addressed by the NIS2 Directive, which now classifies the food sector as critical infrastructure, necessitating robust defenses against ransomware and vulnerabilities in Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

At the heart of the project’s technical strategy is the evolution of the Threat Analysis Critical Control Point methodology into a more advanced TACCP 4.0 framework. This update facilitates the integration of cyber-physical risks into established safety standards such as PAS 96, FSMA, and GDPR. Dr. Odysseas Kokkinos has emphasized that the project will leverage artificial intelligence, secure data exchange protocols, and sophisticated threat modeling to safeguard food integrity. Furthermore, Iuliana Floricica has highlighted the necessity of responsible communication strategies to ensure that technological breakthroughs result in tangible, industry-wide benefits for all stakeholders involved.

The economic stakes are immense, as the EU food sector generates an annual added value of €222 billion and employs 4.5 million people. Given the complexity of global supply chains, this ecosystem remains highly susceptible to disruption. ACT4FOOD utilizes a portion of the €1.4 billion earmarked for cybersecurity within the €7.59 billion total budget of the DIGITAL program for the 2021-2027 period. Ultimately, the success of the initiative will be measured by its ability to transform high-level AI research and Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) into scalable, accessible solutions for the small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of European agribusiness.