Timeline
2021
COMFOCUS Website launch
The COMFOCUS website officially goes live!
COMFOCUS Kick-Off Meeting
The project kick-off meeting took place online on March 15th, 17th and 19th. The three-day meeting was attended by the COMFOCUS consortium led by Stichting Wageningen Research (WR). The event marked the launch of the project, providing valuable information for all the partners and allowing them to meet and share ideas.
COMFOCUS Brochures launch
Publication of printed dissemination materials (COMFOCUS brochure) to bring attention to the project and its mission, objectives and goals.
COMFOCUS Newsletter #1
First newsletter of the project, covering events from the project kick-off up to September 2021.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D5.1
Publication of Deliverable 5.1 – Report on COMFOCUS Logical Framework of food consumer science.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D2.1
Publication of Deliverable 2.1 – Communication and Dissemination Plan.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D4.1
Publication of Deliverable 4.1 – Guideline for harmonisation of measures and protocols linking to other infrastructure and databases.
COMFOCUS Literature Review
Publication of Literature Review on Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) Relevant to COMFOCUS: A conceptual framework for Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).
2022
Workshop “Harmonising Self-Report FCS Approaches”
The first online workshop focused on gathering feedback to refine self-report measures for food choice and health habit surveys across Europe. The goal was to standardize data collection across regions, cultures, and languages, ensuring comparability and establishing foundational survey protocols.
COMFOCUS Newsletter #2
First newsletter of the project, covering events from September 2021 to January 2022.
COMFOCUS Annual Meeting #1
The first COMFOCUS annual meeting aimed to develop a shared vision for future-proof data and clarify interconnections between project activities. It also focused on planning events to spread COMFOCUS guidelines within the scientific community.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D8.3
Publication of Deliverable 8.3 – Recommendations to the specific work packages within COMFOCUS to foster RRI.
COMFOCUS Fellow Open Call #1
The COMFOCUS Open Call #1 offered participating fellows virtual access to the Easy Questionnaire Tool (EQT), enabling researchers to develop pan-European surveys on self-related measures linked to healthy eating. Participants were required to use harmonized measures for socio-demographic variables. This initiative aimed to harmonize data collection methods across studies, facilitating future collaborative research.
Workshop “Measurement Tools for Food Consumer Science”
Held during the Measuring Behaviour Conference, the workshop aimed to engage technology developers in food consumer science. It identified underutilized technologies, fostered a shared understanding of emerging tools, and explored their impact on measurement harmonization, FAIR principles, and responsible research practices.
COMFOCUS at the METROFOOD-PP Conference
At the METROFOOD-PP Final Conference in Bucharest, the COMFOCUS team, led by Dr. Machiel Renders, shared insights during a panel on agrifood system challenges and stakeholder needs. The event facilitated discussions on key issues like food quality, sustainability, and system integration, while highlighting the importance of research, cooperation, and innovation in food consumer science.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D4.2
Publication of Deliverable 4.2 – Guideline for harmonisation of measures and protocols for psychosocial consumer characteristics.
COMFOCUS at the IV National AEPAS Congress
At the IV National Congress of AEPAS in Logroño, COMFOCUS members from IRTA promoted the project’s strategy in the sensory science community. The conference addressed key industry challenges, with a focus on consumer perception, healthy food development, and sustainability, while fostering interactions with potential users and technology developers in food consumer science.
COMFOCUS Face-to-face Meeting
The first in-person COMFOCUS meeting in The Hague strengthened collaboration, monitored Open Call progress, and clarified future steps. It also launched a Stakeholder Forum, fostering connections with various sectors to build a lasting multi-sectoral network for food consumer science.
COMFOCUS Newsletter #3
First newsletter of the project, covering events from January 2022 to July 2022.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D4.3
Publication of Deliverable 4.3 – Guideline for harmonisation of measures and protocols for product and food experiences in surveys.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D4.4
Publication of Deliverable 4.4 – Guideline for harmonisation of measures and protocols related to consumer behaviour as an outcome.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D3.1
Publication of Deliverable 3.1 – Procedure and protocols of COMFOCUS Open Calls to apply for services of VA/TNA.
Academic Training – “Farm to Fork: Sustainable Production & Consumption in Public Canteens”
The "Farm to Fork: Sustainable Production & Consumption in Public Canteens" academic training, organized by EIT Food, focused on sustainable food practices in public canteens. The program engaged participants in topics like local and organic products, zero waste, and alternative proteins, aligning with the COMFOCUS dissemination strategies by promoting sustainable, healthy lifestyles and supporting entrepreneurial thinking in food systems.
COMFOCUS at Eurosense 2022
At the 2022 Eurosense conference, Dr. Mari Sandell of COMFOCUS played a key role in chairing the event and promoting the project's principles. The conference focused on innovative approaches to sensory perception, preference, and consumer behaviour, providing a platform for global networking and the latest developments in sensory and consumer science.
COMFOCUS Newsletter #4
First newsletter of the project, covering events from July 2022 to October 2022.
2023
COMFOCUS Deliverable D5.2
Publication of Deliverable 5.2 – Report on harmonised data models measures in self-reporting and in emerging technologies.
COMFOCUS Annual Meeting #2
The second COMFOCUS annual meeting (held in Porto) aimed to solidify its research infrastructure and enhance collaboration across project activities. It included plenary and parallel sessions, stakeholder discussions, and an Open Calls announcement. Participants also contributed to shaping future communication and dissemination strategies.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D6.1
Publication of Deliverable 6.1 – Guideline for measuring psychophysiological responses.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D6.2
Publication of Deliverable 6.2 – Software prototypes for integration and analysis of multi-modal psychophysiological data.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D4.5
Publication of Deliverable 4.5 – Guideline for harmonisation of measures related to consumers as agents in the food system.
COMFOCUS Fellow Open Call #2
The COMFOCUS Open Call #2 offered early-career researchers the opportunity to conduct collaborative research at European consumer science institutes specializing in psychophysiological measurements and virtual reality. The call provided 67 positions for research visits between September 2023 and July 2024, aiming to harmonize data collection methods and foster a collaborative community in food consumer science.
COMFOCUSf Deliverable 5.3
Publication of Deliverable 5.3 – Report on basic ontology in food consumer science.
Workshops “Sharing Best Practices Among Food Consumer Science Experts”
The three roundtable workshops in Slovakia, Denmark, and Spain gathered insights on COMFOCUS’s future, focusing on dissemination, researcher engagement, and protocol harmonization. Discussions covered data protection, mentoring, and integrating COMFOCUS principles into PhD training through a proposed “COMFOCUS Academy” to expand its reach globally.
COMFOCUS Newsletter #5
First newsletter of the project, covering events from October 2022 to April 2023.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D6.3
Publication of Deliverable 4.3 – Guideline for measuring food choice behaviour in reconstructed and virtual environments.
Workshop “Enabling Future-Proof Food Consumer Science: The Role of BIG(ger) Data from Interlinking Our Efforts”
This workshop at the International Food Marketing Research Symposium in Prague focused on harmonizing measures in food consumer science while ensuring cross-cultural comparability. Discussions highlighted biases, research quality, and the need for flexibility in evolving concepts to maintain relevance in the field.
COMFOCUS at the Pangborn Conference 2023
At the 15th Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium (Nantes), COMFOCUS members presented on topics such as harmonizing self-report measures, new technologies in psychophysiological experiments, and food design. Dr. Hans van Trijp participated in a panel discussing the risks of fragmentation within the food consumer science field, while a workshop on defining the evolving field of sensory and consumer science was also held.
COMFOCUS Newsletter #6
First newsletter of the project, covering events from April 2023 to August 2023.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D2.5
Publication of Deliverable 2.5 – Report on public engagement events.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D3.5
Publication of Deliverable 3.5 – Interim report on monitoring, evaluation, and recommendation of results of COMFOCUS Open Calls and VA/TNA projects.
COMFOCUS at the European Nutrition Conference 2023
At the 14th European Nutrition Conference in Belgrade, COMFOCUS members participated in a workshop focused on understanding healthy eating patterns and the harmonization of self-report measures. They discussed the principles of FAIR and Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI), emphasizing their importance in improving research quality and expanding the adoption of COMFOCUS guidelines.
COMFOCUS Newsletter #7
First newsletter of the project, covering events from August 2023 to December 2023.
2024
COMFOCUS Protocol General Psychophysiological
Guideline for General Psychophysiological Responses.
COMFOCUS Annual Meeting #3
The third COMFOCUS annual meeting in Ljubljana reviewed project progress, set final-year goals, and focused on sustainability and post-project impact. Discussions covered open calls, experiments, dissemination, and future plans to ensure COMFOCUS remains relevant and attracts new researchers.
Academic Training – Ljubljana
On February 29th, COMFOCUS held an Academic Training in Ljubljana, bringing fellows together to learn about harmonized measurements, protocols, and data sets in food consumer science. Key sessions included talks on community building, ethics in consumer research, data management, and immersive technologies, with hands-on experiences in virtual reality and group collaborations to strengthen the project’s community.
COMFOCUS Online Seminar Series
COMFOCUS organized a series of online seminars to disseminate its principles and foster collaboration among members. The seminars included presentations on topics like consumer behaviour in supermarkets and the impact of music on visual attention, aiming to engage new users and share research findings.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D3.2
Publication of Deliverable 3.2 – Report on communication activities.
COMFOCUS Newsletter #8
First newsletter of the project, covering events from December 2023 to April 2024.
Workshop “Sharing Best Practices Among Food Consumer Science Experts”
The second COMFOCUS roundtable (held in Slovakia) focused on overcoming challenges in harmonizing food consumer science research and data sharing. Experts discussed the benefits and challenges of harmonized approaches, open science, and making datasets reusable. Key discussions included encouraging participation and collaboration, which is vital for sustaining COMFOCUS principles post-project.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D2.3
Publication of Deliverable 3.2 – Report on Workshop “Measuring Food Consumer Science”.
COMFOCUS Deliverable D2.4
Publication of Deliverable 3.2 – Report on workshops: Consumer Science Experts.
COMFOCUS at the Integrated Food Ontology Workshop
At the Integrated Food Ontology Workshop 2024 in Enschede, Dr. Joep Tummers presented insights from COMFOCUS, focusing on its food consumer science ontology and data harmonization. The presentation was well-received, with positive feedback highlighting the potential impact of the COMFOCUS ontology on advancing the field.
Food Convergence Innovation – Design and Capacity Building
This workshop focused on advancing the COMFOCUS ontology in food consumer science and its role in food choice and behavioral change within Food Convergence Innovation. Dr. Joep Tummers presented the ontology, which was discussed in three blocks: technology, governance, and practical use. The "Life after COMFOCUS" concept explored future dissemination and exploitation of the ontology post-project.
COMFOCUS Newsletter #9
First newsletter of the project, covering events from April 2024 to August 2024.
COMFOCUS at Eurosense 2024
At the 11th EuroSense held in Dublin, COMFOCUS member Dr. Machiel Reinders presented a workshop on advancing food consumer science. The session highlighted COMFOCUS guidelines and harmonization practices, aiming to spread the project's ethos and attract new users to its framework.
Academic Training – Bologna
On February 10th, 2024, COMFOCUS held its second face-to-face Academic Training in Bologna, Italy, focusing on the future of food consumer science. Presentations included topics such as the need for diet changes, fragrance influences on consumer choices, EEG approaches, and sustainability, with an interactive poster session and Q&A to foster knowledge sharing. The event aimed to advance the COMFOCUS approach and the food consumer science field.
COMFOCUS Newsletter #10
First newsletter of the project, covering events from August 2024 to December 2024.
2025
COMFOCUS production of merchandise for the Final Conference
Development of COMFOCUS-branded backpacks and power banks to celebrate the COMFOCUS Final Conference.
COMFOCUS development of final Brochures
Development of COMFOCUS final brochures with the project outputs.
COMFOCUS development of Technical Flyers
Development of COMFOCUS Technical Flyers with the project outputs.
COMFOCUS development of project Final Video
Development of COMFOCUS final video with the project outputs.
COMFOCUS Final Conference
Project final conference in Wageningen to present last deliverables, and celebrate a successful outcome.
COMFOCUS development of project final Short Videos
Development of COMFOCUS final short videos highlighting the project outputs and its technologies.
COMFOCUS development of project final Podcast
Development of COMFOCUS podcast presenting the project to new audiences and discussing about its achievement, technologies, protocols, the outputs and future of Food Science.
COMFOCUS development of project extensive article
Development of COMFOCUS extensive article by Jornal Observador introducing the project and its achievements to new audiences.
COMFOCUS development of Tool Box new videos
Development of COMFOCUS new video manuals for the novel features introduced in the Tool Box.