The University for Continuing Education Krems is coordinating the EU research project “Linking Brain, Environment and Ecosystems Through Holistic Omics and Validated Evidence-based Nutrition Guidelines” (BEETHOVEN), which has been selected for funding under the Horizon Europe program. The project impressed reviewers with its innovative and comprehensive approach and is of high societal relevance: its core focus is the scientific investigation of the relationship between mental health and nutrition. The project seeks to close persistent knowledge gaps and to develop evidence-based nutrition guidelines. Of the total project budget of €5 million, around €1 million will flow to Lower Austria.
Mental disorders are among the major public health challenges across Europe. At the same time, a growing body of research suggests that both nutrition and the gut microbiome may represent important and modifiable factors – relevant not only for prevention, but also for supporting mental well-being and therapeutic processes. However, the current evidence base remains fragmented: integrated analyses that combine biological mechanisms, clinical data, and social, ecological, and economic conditions are still largely lacking.
This is where the BEETHOVEN project comes in. “The aim,” explains project coordinator Matthias Pilecky of the Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health at the University for Continuing Education Krems, “is to establish a robust scientific foundation for understanding how and under which conditions nutrition can influence mental well-being, what recommendations can be derived from this, and under what circumstances such recommendations are likely to be widely accepted.” The project focuses, among other aspects, on interactions between the microbiome and the host, the gut–brain axis, as well as ecological and socioeconomic factors. In the long term, the project’s research is intended to support the development of practice-oriented measures and evidence-based guidelines for health promotion and prevention in the context of mental health. These findings are also expected to inform European recommendations and contribute to the European Union’s “Food 2030” report.
Connecting perspectives and transferring knowledge into practice
Research on nutrition and mental health has so far often been conducted in parallel but largely disconnected fields. Biomedical and clinical studies tend to focus on mechanisms within the body, while public health research examines social factors and dietary patterns – yet the integration of these perspectives remains insufficient. Added to this are emerging questions related to environmental change: for example, how climate-related shifts in food production affect nutrition and health. One key innovation of the project, Pilecky notes, lies in assessing the effects of biodiversity loss and climate stress on nutrient supply using predictive ecological models.
The project aims to bring these perspectives together and systematically assess which nutritional approaches can support mental health. Rather than focusing solely on individual nutrients, the emphasis is on dietary patterns and their role in health and well-being.
International consortium with broad expertise
The consortium led by the University for Continuing Education Krems comprises 14 partners from across Europe and Israel. From Austria, the WasserCluster Lunz is also involved. The project is scheduled to start in September 2026 and will run for four years. The total budget amounts to approximately €5 million, with around €1 million allocated to Lower Austria.
The consortium brings together expertise from health research, nutrition science, environmental and ecosystem research, and public health. Partner institutions include universities and research organizations such as the universities of Athens, Bayreuth, Bologna, Jerusalem, Örebro, Eastern Finland, Reading, and Roehampton, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, IDIAPjGol, SAFE Food Advocacy, and the start-up company ANeustart.
About Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s central funding program for research and innovation, structured around three pillars and running from 2021 to 2027. As the world’s largest transnational research and innovation program, it has a total budget of more than €93 billion. Horizon Europe supports the development of a knowledge- and innovation-based society and a competitive economy, while contributing to sustainable development.
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