FOODVALUE: Innovation and Research to Enhance Montenegro’s Traditional Fermented Foods

Tradition meets science in the FOODVALUE project, a bilateral cooperation initiative between Italy and Montenegro aimed at innovating and enhancing some of Montenegro’s traditional fermented foods. The project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Montenegrin Ministry of Science and Technological Development, spans the years 2023-2025 and involves collaboration between two universities from the UniAdrion network: the Polytechnic University of Marche and the University of Donja Gorica. FOODVALUE has a dual objective: to preserve the authenticity and biodiversity of Montenegro’s traditional fermented products, such as Njeguški cheese and Sudžuk sausage, while introducing technological innovations to improve their quality, safety, and market competitiveness. The Montenegrin agri-food sector is a key pillar of the country’s economy but requires modern solutions to optimize production processes and ensure high-quality standards.

FoodChain app

FoodChain is a blockchain-based software solution designed to improve traceability, authenticity, and quality assurance across food supply chains. The application supports multiple users with different role-based permissions, improves food production monitoring by organizing production into traceable series, with each stage recorded securely on the blockchain to ensure data integrity and transparency. Each production series receives a unique QR code which can be printed on product labels. Consumers can scan using the FoodChain app to access verified information about origin, production processes, and quality verification. This solution creates a transparent digital connection between producers, laboratories, and consumers, allowing every product to be traced back to its source. The system is supported by the Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety at the University of Donja Gorica, where test results are securely linked to blockchain records to provide scientific validation of product quality and authenticity. By combining blockchain technology with QR-based traceability, FoodChain bridges tradition and innovation, preserving Montenegro's traditional foods while introducing digital tools that enhance transparency, safety, and market competitiveness in line with the FoodValue project's mission.