The European Union has confirmed that it is to fund 24 food quality and safety research projects and 12 support actions with an initial contribution of €166 million in the first year of the EU 6th Research Framework Programme (FP6).
The projects are the first of their kind to receive FP6 funding, totalling close to €20 billion over 4 years (2003-2006). The programmes, some of which will receive up to €17 million each, will tackle consumer-oriented issues such as food-related diseases and allergies, the impact of food on health, environmentally-friendly production methods, and environmental health risks, making extensive use of the new approaches offered by FP6. Most of these major new research initiatives will contribute to the implementation of relevant EU policies with scientific data and recommendations.
Announcing the new research projects European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin said: "In Europe, we are proud of the quality food we produce. I am encouraged by the great response we get from our researchers across Europe to work together to increase our knowledge about our food and to make it even better and safer. Through our European research programmes, we give our top scientists and companies the necessary resources to improve the food we eat and its effects on our health and well-being."
The FP6 started on January 1st 2003, with a first crop of calls for proposals published on December 17th, 2002. It has a budget of close to €20 billion, to be allocated on the basis of evaluations following calls for proposals over 4 years. For Priority 5 - Food Quality and Safety - the initial budget is €685 million. On the basis of the evaluation of research proposals by independent experts, the best proposals have been short-listed by the Commission to receive EU funding. Following approval by the Commission and a review by the programme committee, contract negotiations will be initiated with project co-ordinators.
In total some 200 proposals, representing almost €1.4 billion, were evaluated by independent experts under the supervision of the Commission. The experts' shortlists form the basis of the funding decisions of the European Commission. Subject to budgetary constraints, up to 36 proposals, representing an initial EU contribution of €166 million, are expected to receive funding. Due to the overwhelming number of high quality proposals and a limited budget a number of topics could not be covered and some of these might be re-introduced into the work programme for 2004.
These ambitious projects will, amongst other topics, investigate issues such as low input and organic production systems; prevention, control and management of prion diseases; improved strategies in animal welfare for improved food quality; and allergy and asthma.
In addition to the research projects, 12 specific support actions are short-listed for funding for a total EU contribution of €6.9 million. Several of these target training and networking researchers and technology transfer, particularly in candidate countries, while other actions aim at disseminating results, sharing good practice stemming from research and helping international discussions in the light of technical progress.
For further details on the proposals for EU food safety and quality funding, please see the official press release.