France has gone through two major crises over the last few years, both directly connected to the purpose of this joint technological network: the energy crisis in 2022 and the droughts of 2022 and 2023. These events revealed the fragility of our industrial ecosystem, which was built in a context of abundant, inexpensive energy and water resources.

Faced with the challenges of climate change, decarbonisation, and the rarification of resources, RMT Actia Écofluides is launching a programme to make the food industry more energy efficient, resilient, and sustainable. The aim is to position this joint technological network as a key actor of the ecological transition, by combining technological innovation, regulatory adaptation, and the diffusion of knowledge.

This RMT began its work in 2026 and is set to run for five years.

Workstream 1: The reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions: Rethinking heating networks, electrifying processes, and integrating renewable or recovered energy (solar heat, waste heat) to reduce food industry companies’ carbon footprint.

Workstream 2: Minimising water use and maximising the reuse of water: Optimising cleaning operations and promoting the use of wastewater processes, in order to maintain production while reducing pressure on water resources.

Workstream 3: Modelling and optimising processes: The development of analytical tools (collection of data on the ground, Pinch analysis, digital twins) to optimise the use of both water and energy using a multi-criteria approach to industrial processes.

Workstream 4: Dissemination of results and uptake of best practices: Sharing work with companies, institutions, academia, and the scientific community through pedagogical tools, training, webinars and publications, in order to facilitate the adoption of innovations.