Executive Summary: This is the first deliverable of Watson Work Package 2 (WP2) ‘Socioeconomic Methodologies, Tools andApproaches for Prevention of Food Fraud’. It introduces an updated methodology and workplan for WP2,based on the first insights from research. Its aims are to update and detail the methodology followed withinWP2, to report on first results and insights from ongoing work in tasks 2.1 and 2.2 and to detail the futurework plan of WP2 based on these first findings. The results and analyses presented in this deliverable are tobe understood as preliminary, as for most of the tasks presented here data collection is not complete. Yetthese first results are of importance for Watson progress as they enable to identify the most salientchallenges encountered by supply chain stakeholders. The deliverable first presents the overall approach taken within WP2 to build the knowledge base on thesocio-economic aspects of food fraud and how it can be addressed. It introduces the different methods usedfor data collection and analysis. These are a literature review (T2.1), semi-structured interviews (T2.1, T2.2,T2.3), workshops (T2.4), a survey including a choice experiment (T2.2) and an assessment of ethical guideline(T2.5). Combining of these methods in different tasks provides Watson with a systemic perspective onunderstanding food fraud vulnerabilities. The preliminary results of tasks 2.1 and 2.2 are then presented. The literature review highlights criticalcharacteristics of the reviewed papers on the current state of the art of practices and technologies used infood chains for transparency, including their primary focus areas determined by keywords, researchquestions, and methods. In terms of technology, blockchain technology emerges as a crucial enabler fortraceability and transparency in the food supply chain, providing end-to-end traceability, data integrity, andtrust through its decentralized and immutable nature. The discussion centres on the benefits of blockchaintechnology for food safety, waste prevention, distribution efficiency, and source identification of foodborneillnesses. The text anticipates the further analysis and discussion of these preliminary findings in aforthcoming Systematic Literature Review (SLR), which will be conducted in the coming months. Across various supply chains, expert interviews have revealed common themes related to food fraudprevention. These practices include mislabelling by botanical or geographical origin, adulteration, the use ofadditives and counterfeiting. Challenges include limitations of existing analytical methods, a lack of uniformregulation, information gaps and demands for improved traceability technology. The preliminary resultspresented here will be further deepened in the coming months’ interviews within WP2 and in the Watsonuse cases.
Ejderyan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.