Yesterday, something special happened in Brussels. The Watson Project marked a milestone we had been working toward for three years: our final event, broadcast live by Euronews and followed by audiences across Europe!
From the moment the lights came up, the event had an energy of its own. We opened with a one-to-one conversation between Euronews science correspondent Jeremy Wilks and our coordinator Dimitrios Argyropoulos, who reflected on Watson’s journey, its challenges, and how its innovations are reshaping food safety and traceability across the continent.
Their exchange set the tone for what would become a vibrant afternoon with live demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies, tastings of high-quality European produce and a lively atmosphere.
Questions filled the room: How do you spot fake olive oil and honey? What does a totally transparent cheese, beer or wine supply chain look like? And can you trust the fish and meat on your plate?
A conversation on the future of food
The conversation quickly went beyond technology. We were honoured to welcome special speakers from the European Commission, Rosalinda Scalia (DG RTD) and Koen Van Dyck (DG SANTE), who shared the latest EU initiatives on food traceability, transparency and fraud prevention.
Their insights set the stage for understanding how policy and innovation work hand in hand to protect consumers.
We were also grateful to have our partners from the EU Cluster for Food Traceability and Trust: Kostas Choumas (ALLIANCE), Isabelle Guelinckx (TITAN), Lotte Hallez (CUES) and Carlos Mazorra (Sea2See), whose contributions highlighted the strength of collaboration across EU-funded initiatives working toward a safer, more resilient agri-food system.
Watson “Food Detectives” in action!
At the heart of the event were Watson’s six use-case teams, also known as our “Food Detectives”.
From olive oil to wine, honey, cheese, fish, and meat, our detectives shared how Watson technologies are detecting fraud, ensuring authenticity and making the supply chain more transparent.
Watching the demonstrations in action, it was easy to see how our innovative solutions respond to real-world challenges!
As the programme concluded, the event shifted from stage to experience. Guests were invited to taste products developed by Watson partners and to see our technologies in action.
Thanks to PGI honey from Asturias, high-quality wine from Porto, Italian extra virgin olive oil produced by Mitera GmbH, Finnish cheese and beer… we had the perfect excuse to connect science with the senses and pay tribute to the people behind the project.
The day would not have been the same without our partners from Euronews, Jeremy Wilks and Davide Raffaele Lobina, who hosted the Watson final event and brought the stories to life for both the live audience and viewers around the world.
The Watson Final Event was not just a closing chapter. It was a chance to look back on what we have achieved, celebrate the dedication of everyone involved in the project, and inspire the future of food traceability, safety and transparency across Europe.
It was a moment of pride, reflection and excitement for what comes next!