DEUS EX MACHINA awarded EU funding to advance food industry sustainability through innovative AI Ingredient Upscaling platform

The €2M grant will accelerate the development of an AI platform that addresses food industry sustainability challenges while unlocking new revenue opportunities and better, more affordable foods for consumers and pets.

ATHENS, Greece, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DEUS EX MACHINA, bioinformatics company specializing in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning & Analytics is embarking on a journey to leverage AI to upcycle and valorize food by-products. Through the EU program: "Ellada 2.0. National Recovery and Resilience Plan" DEUS has been awarded €2M to create a by-product Ingredient Upscaling platform to transform how food manufacturers handle production by-products, addressing critical sustainability challenges while unlocking new revenue opportunities.

A yet to be solved global food waste crisis
The global food industry currently faces a massive waste crisis, with approximately 2.5 billion tons of food wasted annually and at least 30% lost during production processes. In Europe, significant waste streams include consumed cereals, apple pulp, whey, and eggshell residues. This waste represents not only environmental challenges but also missed commercialization opportunities for manufacturers struggling with increasing production costs and near-impossible sustainability mandates.

Food processing waste has tremendous untapped potential, as these streams exist in large, concentrated, and homogeneous quantities. Until now, the analysis required to transform these waste streams into valuable products has been conducted through specialized consulting services, resulting in significant delivery times and delayed decision-making for food producers.

Leveraging AI combined with Sensory & Food Science to tackle the industry's biggest challenge
The Ingredient Upscaling platform will leverage advanced AI technology to help food and ingredient manufacturers optimize production processes and convert waste by-products into valuable commercial resources. Accessible through a secure, self-serve SaaS suite, Ingredient Upscaling will significantly reduce analysis time and enable the discovery of health promoting ingredients.

The platform will allow food companies and ingredient manufacturers to:

• Upload production by-product streams for AI analysis
• Receive detailed biochemical profiling and potential applications
• Access evidence-based health benefit associations at the molecular level
• Run advanced searches using natural language and structured queries
• Optimize recipes with upcycled ingredient molecules discovered via the platform

"Our mission at DEUS is to use AI for social impact. With one-third of global food production wasted along the food chain, this grant will accelerate our efforts to strengthen the circular economy by creating a more sustainable approach to food industry waste," said Anestis Taskos, Head of Operations at DEUS EX MACHINA.

DEUS EX MACHINA: Deep Expertise in AI, Data Science & Bioinformatics
The project is led by a multidisciplinary team of Ph.D. experts in Data Science, Multiphysics, Material and Sensory Science, Software Engineering, Chemoinformatics, and Bioinformatics. Their combined research experience and technical expertise drive the platform's development, ensuring scientific rigor and practical applications.

The Ingredient Upscaling platform is expected to launch in Q4 2025, with pilot programs already underway with select CPG partners.

For information about how Ingredient Upscaling is advancing the circular economy, benefiting both people and the planet, or to inquire about pilot opportunities, please contact us at: [email protected].

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About DEUS EX MACHINA IKE
DEUS EX MACHINA IKE is a Greek bioinformatics company specializing in AI/ML and analytics for the Food, Nutrition, and Health Industry. Founded by Ilias Tagkopoulos, Ph.D., it is one of the first AI companies in Greece. DEUS' solutions and platforms have accelerated research and product innovation for food and ingredient companies worldwide. Keep up to date with the latest news from DEUS EX MACHINA on Linkedin.

About The National Recovery and Resilience Plan 'Greece 2.0
The National Recovery and Resilience Plan 'Greece 2.0' was approved by the European Union's Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) on July 13, 2021, with a total allocation of €30.5 billion. The plan encompasses 105 investments and 77 reforms organized across five strategic pillars: Green Transition, Digital Transformation, Employment-Skills-Social Cohesion, Private Investments and Economic Transformation, and REPowerEU. Funding is distributed through a combination of grants and loans, with the plan projected to catalyze more than €60 billion in total investments throughout Greece by August 2026, the deadline for completing all projects. To learn more visit: https://greece20.gov.gr/en/.

SOURCE DEUS EX MACHINA IKE