With the aim to improve scientific understanding in the European Union, in November this year Brussels witnessed the launch of one of the biggest research programmes in the world - the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). A slice of the budget will be devoted to improving the health of European citizens through food.
With a budget of €17.5 billion, FP6 will support projects in selected strategic areas and foster the creation of a European Research Area, described by the European Commissioner for Research Philippe Busquin 'as an internal market for knowledge and science.'
The European food industry will have many opportunities to receive funding for research, development, education and innovation during the period 2002-2006. Arguably some of the most valuable areas of the FP6 for the food industry are the thematic programmes 'Food quality and safety', 'Specific SME activities' and 'Research and innovation'.
The 'Food quality and safety' thematic programme has a budget of €685 million for R&D projects to include epidemiology of food-related diseases and allergies, the impact of food on health, traceability processes all along the production chain, methods of analysis, detection and control, and safer and environmentally friendly production methods and technologies. In addition, there are projects on healthier foodstuffs, the impact of animal feed on human health and environmental health risks.
Specific activities for SMEs have a budget of €430 million for collective research and co-operative research involving small and medium sized enterprises and research groups, that set out to solve particular business oriented problems. The 'Research and innovation' programme (€290 million) may be used for networking, trans-regional cooperation and other innovation activities.
Further information can be obtained from the FP6 website.