The fermented and distilled beverage industries have seen major developments over the last few years. Climate change increases the variability of the quality of raw materials and limits the available processing options. These disruptions have a direct impact on products’ stability. However, consumer expectations are changing quickly, with a search for natural products, specific flavours, and growing demand for low- or no-alcohol beverages. These new demands make production more complex, but organoleptic quality must remain irreproachable.

In this context, RMT Actia Quadiferm aims to help industry stakeholders meet these challenges, which are strategic for France given the international reputation and economic importance of the French fermented and distilled beverage industries. This joint technological network relies on inter-industry and inter-network synergies, as well as environmentally friendly microbiological and technological innovations.

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

Workstream 1: Better understanding of consumer expectations for better innovation: understanding and anticipating changing expectations (for natural, healthy low- or no-alcohol products) using innovative methodologies. Finding scientific answers for these expectations, in particular around volatile aromatic compounds, low- and no-alcohol products, and microbiological stability.

Workstream 2: The impact of the climate on product quality from grain to glass: characterising this impact and innovating to mitigate it; studying changes in raw materials and their impact on the quality of beverages (composition, flora, fermentability); finding solutions to mitigate this impact, like the management of acidity and sugar by natural varietal and microbiological means.

Workstream 3: Responsible processing — innovation for more ecological processes: optimising them to reduce energy and water consumption. Limiting the use of refrigeration/freezing, examining eco–friendly alternatives for distillation, and improving cleaning/disinfection processes.

Workstream 4: Monitoring, communication, and training: A cross-cutting workstream devoted to communication, training, and regulatory monitoring to share the network’s work with industry stakeholders and facilitate the adoption of innovations.