1. FP7 Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology Food Safety Research
Dyanne Bennink
European Commission
DG Research
Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food

2. European Food Research Programmes
Food, agriculture
and biotechnology EUR 1935 Mio?
Food quality
and safety EUR 685 mio
Key Action 1 EUR 285 mio
153 projects
FAIR
ECU 123 mio
137 projects
AIR
ECU 60 mio
72 projects
MTI EUR 136 Mio
No explicit mentioning of food research programme before FP2, although included in agriculture, fisheries, and technologies
FLAIR
ECU 25 mio
33 projects
1989
FP2
1991
FP3
1994
FP4
1998
FP5
2002
FP6
2006
FP7
2010

3. Towards FP7 Commission proposal 2005
7 years; €70 billion
Revision by Council and Parliament
General support, but:
budgetary limits
general amendments
specific issues, such as research on human stem cells
Expecting finalisation December 2006
Budget € 54 billion (1935 Mio€ for Food, agriculture and biotechnology)
First work-programme end December 2006
The development of FP7
Background to FP7
The proposal in 2005, with the novelty of 7 years and a doubling of the FP6 budget
During the co-decision process – general support, though some issues such as budget and human stem cells
Current status – budget 50m (about 40% increase on FP6)

4. Framework Programme 7 2007 – 2013 +
Cooperation – Collaborative research
Ideas – Frontier Research
People – Human Potential
Capacities – Research Capacity +
The structure of the specific programmes
The 7th EU Research Framework Programme is organised in four parts corresponding to four major components of European Research.
Cooperation
Ideas
People
Capacities
Each of them will be the subject of a Specific Programme.
JRC (non-nuclear)
JRC (nuclear)
Euratom

5. New elements in FP7
Emphasis on research themes rather than on “instruments”
Significant simplification of its operation
Focus on developing research that meets the needs of European industry, through the work of Technology Platforms and the new Joint Technology Initiatives
Establishment of a European Research Council, funding the best of European science
Integration of International cooperation in all four programmes
Development of Regions of Knowledge
A Risk-Sharing Finance Facility aimed at fostering private investment in research

6. Ideas – Frontier Research
ERC – European Research Council
Commission
Scientific Council
Preparation of work-programmes
Organisation of peer review
Approval of work-programmes and interaction with the programme committees
Externalised tasks
FP7
The “Ideas” specific programme, and the European Research Council
Management of the project cycle

7. People – Human Potential
Initial training of researchers
Marie Curie Networks
Life-long training and career development
Individual Fellowships
Co-financing of regional/national/international programmes
Industry-academia pathways and partnerships
Industry-Academia Scheme
International dimension
Outgoing International Fellowships; Incoming International Fellowships
International Cooperation Scheme; Reintegration grants
FP7
The people specific programme
Objective
Strengthening, quantitatively and qualitatively, the human potential in research and technology in Europe, by stimulating people to enter into the researcher’s profession, encouraging European researchers to stay in Europe, and attracting to Europe researchers from the entire world, making Europe more attractive to the best researchers. This will be done by putting into place a coherent set of “Marie Curie” actions, addressing researchers at all stages of their careers, from initial research training to life long learning and career development.
Activities
Initial training of researchers to improve their career perspectives, in both public and private sectors, including through the broadening of their scientific and generic skills, and attracting more young researchers to scientific careers This will be implemented through Marie Curie Networks with the main objective to overcome fragmentation of and to strengthen at European level the initial training and career development of researchers. Members of the trans-national networks shall exploit their complementary competencies through integrated training programmes. Support will comprise recruitment of early stage researchers, organisation of training events also open to researchers outside the network and senior chairs and/or industry positions for knowledge transfer and supervision.
Life-long training and career development to support the career development of experienced researchers. With a view to complementing or acquiring new skills and competencies or to enhance inter/multidisciplinarity and/or inter-sectoral mobility, support is foreseen for researchers with particular needs for additional/complementary competences and skills, for researchers to resume a research career after a break and for (re)integrating researchers into a longer term research position in Europe, including in their country of origin, after a transnational/international mobility experience. This action line will be implemented through both individual fellowships awarded directly at Community level and through the co-financing of regional, national or international programmes.
Industry-academia pathways and partnerships: Support to longer term co-operation programmes between organisations from academia and industry, in particular SMEs, aims at increasing knowledge sharing through joint research partnerships, supported by the recruitment of experienced researchers to the partnership, by staff secondments between both sectors, and by the organisation of events.
The international dimension, to increase the quality of European research by attracting research talent from outside Europe and fostering mutually beneficial research collaboration with researchers from outside Europe. This will be addressed through international outgoing fellowships (with an in-built mandatory return phase),; international incoming fellowships; partnerships to support the exchange of researchers. Common initiatives between European organisations and organisations from countries neighbouring the EU and countries with which the EU has a Science and Technology agreement will also be supported. The activity will include measures to counter the risk of “brain drain” from developing countries and emerging economies and measures to create networks of European researchers working abroad. These actions will be implemented in line with the international activities under the “Co-operation” and “Capacities” Programmes.
Specific actions to support the creation of a genuine European labour market for researchers, by removing obstacles to mobility and enhancing the career perspectives of researchers in Europe. Furthermore, awards to improve the public awareness of Marie Curie actions and their objectives will be provided.
Specific actions
Excellence awards

8. Capacities – Research Capacity
2. Research for the benefit of SMEs
3. Regions of Knowledge
4. Research Potential
5. Science in Society
1. Research Infrastructures
6. Activities of International Cooperation
FP7
The Capacities specific programme
Objectives:
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES: Optimising the use and development of the best research infrastructures existing in Europe, and helping to create in all fields of science and technology new research infrastructures of pan-European interest needed by the European scientific community to remain at the forefront of the advancement of research, and able to help industry to strengthen its base of knowledge and its technological know how.
RESEARCH FOR THE BENEFIT OF SMEs: Strengthening the innovation capacity of European SMEs and their contribution to the development of new technology based products and markets by helping them outsource research, increase their research efforts, extend their networks, better exploit research results and acquire technological know how.
REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE: Strengthening the research potential of European regions, in particular by encouraging and supporting the development, across Europe, of regional “research-driven clusters” associating universities, research centres, enterprises and regional authorities.
RESEARCH POTENTIAL: Stimulating the realisation of the full research potential of the enlarged Union by unlocking and developing the research potential in the EU’s Convergence Regions, and helping to strengthen the capacities of their researchers to successfully participate in research activities at EU level.
SCIENCE IN SOCIETY: With a view to building an effective and democratic European Knowledge society, the aim is to stimulate the harmonious integration of scientific and technological endeavour, and associated research policies in the European social web, by encouraging at European scale reflection and debate on science and technology, and their relation with society and culture.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: To become competitive and play a leading role at world level, the European Community needs a strong and coherent international science and technology policy.
This international policy has two interdependent objectives:
To support European competitiveness through strategic partnerships with third countries in selected fields of science and by attracting the best third country scientists to work in and with Europe;
To address specific problems that third countries face or that have a global character, on the basis of mutual interest and mutual benefit.

9. Cooperation – Collaborative research
Under each theme there will be flexibility to address emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
Dissemination of knowledge and transfer of results will be supported in all thematic areas
Support will be implemented across all themes through:
Collaborative research
(Collaborative projects; Networks of Excellence; Coordination/support actions)
Joint Technology Initiatives
Cooperation programme:
Need for flexibility within the programme (emerging research areas).
Actions (instruments) – common collaborative project replacing STREPs and IPs
NoEs remain
Common CA/SSA action
Also possible JTIs
ERAnet
Emphasis on ICPC (International cooperation partner country – replacing INCO)
Coordination of non-Community research programmes
(ERA-NET; ERA-NET+; Article 169)
International Cooperation

10. Cooperation – Collaborative research
9 Themes
Health
Food, agriculture and biotechnology
Information and communication technologies
Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies
Energy
Environment (including climate change)
Transport (including aeronautics)
Socio-economic sciences and the humanities
Security and space
The structure of the Cooperation specific programme – nine themes

11. Cooperation – Collaborative research
Theme 2
Health
Food, agriculture and biotechnology
Information and communication technologies
Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies
Energy
Environment (including climate change)
Transport (including aeronautics)
Socio-economic sciences and the humanities
Security and space
The structure of the Cooperation specific programme
KBBE primarily in Theme 2, but note cross-cutting themes, e.g. Health, ICT, Nano, Energy and Environment

12. 2. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology
Sustainable production and management of biological resources
from land, forest, and aquatic environments
“Fork to farm”: Food, health and well being
Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable
non-food products and processes
The structure of theme 2 (1):
3 activities:
Sustainable production
Food, health and well-being
Non-food

13. THE EUROPEAN KNOWLEDGE- BASED BIOECONOMY
STABILITY - BIODEGRADABILITY
FUNCTIONALITY
QUALITY ASSURANCE STRATEGIES TRACEABILITY, CONSUMER SCIENCE
SOCIETAL NEEDS
Life sciences &
biotechnology for
sustainable
non-food products +
processes
“Fork to Farm” Food, health and well-being
WHITE BIOTECH
CLEAN BIOPROCESSES
RAW MATERIALS/WASTE
ADVANCED FOOD TECHNOLOGIES, FOOD QUALITY DETERMINANTS, NUTRITION
PROCESSING
The structure of theme 2 (2):
The unique concept of the knowledge-based bio-economy:
Pillar 1: Providing the research base and tools for optimised and sustainable management/production of biological resources from plants, animals, microbes and the processing tools for the conversion of these resources to food or non-food raw materials and products.
Pillar 2: Consumer driven food research to ensure health and well-being of European people – largely a continuation of FP6 efforts in the “food quality and safety” programme.
Pillar 3: Research into eco-efficient products and processes from biological resources.
Pillar 1 and Pillar 3, although to some extent already financed in and FP4 and FP5 (FAIR Programme; Cell factory, etc.) have been largely absent from FP6 or efforts were scattered and/or not of a sufficient critical mass. Integrating research, industry, providers of biological resources (farmers, fishery&forestry) and consumers and responding to societal and policy needs
ORGANIC AND LOW INPUT FARMING - BIODIVERSITY ANIMAL HEALTH - RURAL DEVT.
GREEN/BLUE BIOTECH
OPTIMISED RAW MATERIALS
PRODUCTION
Sustainable production and management of biological resources from
land, forest, and aquatic environments

14. The bio-economy is large….
Annual turnover ca €1 668 billion
Food: €850b
Agriculture: €210b
Fisheries and aquaculture: €8b
Paper/pulp: €400b
Forestry/wood: €150b
Industrial biotechnology: €50b
Background to the KBBE (3)
The value of the bioeconomy is large (estimate around 1.5 trillion euro)

15. …. but faces significant challenges
Climate and environment
Global warming; extreme weather; drought; biodiversity; sustainable fisheries; water and soil quality
Social change and rural development
Demographics; lifestyle and consumer demand; attitudes to new technologies; changing use of countryside
Health
Obesity, allergies, zoonoses
Economy and trade
Globalisation; CAP/CFP
Research structures
Converging technologies; multidisciplinarity
Background to the KBBE (4)
But there are challenges that are important too. For example:
Climate and associated environmental changes
Social changes (e.g. new uses of the rural and coastal areas)
New health issues – obesity and allergies
Changes in trade patterns – globalisation: China, India, Russia, Brazil
Changing research structures (e.g. integration of nano- and information- technologies into health

16. Need to prioritise “More with less”
Theme 2 FP7 “Food, Agriculture, Biotechnology” has broader scope than priority 5 “Food Quality&Safety” of FP6 (added activity 3 on biotech products and processes for non-food applications)
Research to support policies, international cooperation and coordination of national research is integrated into the themes
Budget for first calls of theme 2 - FP7 comparable (or lower) than for priority 5 - FP6
Need to prioritise along the following criteria:
New areas/topics not (little) covered in previous FPs.
Continue/follow-up on successful EU research activities in order to achieve maximum impact.
Preparatory actions for identifying priority topics/activity areas for future calls, i.e. analysis of certain research/technology options for addressing specific goals

17. Consultation and external input
Input into work programme from:
Advisory Group of this theme
the research community,
interested organisations (EFSA, etc.)
Standing Committee for Agricultural Research (SCAR)
expert workshops, outputs from conferences
studies, analysis of ongoing research,
policy needs (other Commission directorates)
strategic research agendas (SRA) of the European Technology Platforms relevant to Theme 2 (Plants for the Future; Sustainable Farm Animal Breeding and Reproduction; Global Animal Health; Food for Life; Forestry; Biofuels; the Industrial Biotechnology section of the Sustainable Chemistry Platform)

18. 2. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology
Sustainable production and management of biological resources
from land, forest, and aquatic environments
“Fork to farm”: Food, health and well being
Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable
non-food products and processes
The structure of theme 2 (3):
Emphasis on activity 1

19. Activity 1: Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest and aquatic environments: OBJECTIVES
Exploitation of new and emerging technologies
Sustainable production
Social and economic challenges
Rural contexts, animal welfare
External threats: climate change
The structure of theme 2 (4):
How activity 1 has been developed:
Underpinning it all is the exploitation of new and emerging resources
Taking into account (and research into): social and economic challenges; rural contexts and animal welfare; external threats and climate change
This all supports sustainable production
Sustainable production supports and is supported by a controlled disease risk in the animal systems (also the plant systems, but in this context it was mainly animal driven)
And the results drive down the lines to activities 2 (food) and 3 (non-food)
Healthier, safer and higher quality foods. Non-food production
Controlling the risk of zoonotic, epizootic and food-related disease

20. Sustainable production Optimised animal health, production and welfare
Activity 1: Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest and aquatic environments: AREAS
“Enabling” research
Micro-organisms; plants; animals
“-omics”; bioinformatics; systems biology; tools and technologies
Sustainable production
Agriculture; horticulture; forestry; fisheries; aquaculture
Improved crops; plant health; control of pests, disease and other threats
Optimised animal health, production and welfare
Exploitation of genetics knowledge; breeding, physiology, behaviour
Control of infectious diseases; epizootics, zoonoses; management of by-products
The structure of theme 2 (5):
The activity is then structured around 4 areas, as shown
Building of the KBBE
Tools for policy makers in support of community policy
Rural and coastal development; International development
Socio-economics and cost-benefits. Farming systems, including non-food

21. 2. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology
Sustainable production and management of biological resources
from land, forest, and aquatic environments
“Fork to farm”: Food, health and well being
Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable
non-food products and processes
The structure of theme 2 (11):
Emphasis on activity 3

22. Activity 3: Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes
Improved biomass for energy,
Bio-catalysis; new bio-refinery concepts
Forestry and forest based products
Cleaner processing
©Science 27 January 2006 Vol 311

23. 2. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology
Sustainable production and management of biological resources
from land, forest, and aquatic environments
“Fork to farm”: Food, health and well being
Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable
non-food products and processes
The structure of theme 2 (7):
Emphasis on activity 2

24. Activity 2: Fork to Farm Health and well- Consumers being of consumers
Nutrition
Nutritional value / digestion /
health impacts
Processing
Safety
Organoleptic impact
Environment
Safe, high-quality foods
Preparation
Environment
The structure of theme 2 (8):
The food chain concept of activity 2
Storage / transport / retail
Processing
Production systems:
Agriculture / Fisheries / Aquaculture

25. Activity 2: “Fork to farm”- Food, health and well being
Consumer and societal aspects of food
Nutrition, diet-related diseases and disorders, nutrigenomics, food development
Innovative food and feed processing and packaging, smart control, waste management
Improved quality and assured microbiological and chemical safety of food and feed, detection methods, risk governance
Environmental impacts on/of the food chain, total food chain concept

26. FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH FP6
FP6 running projects:
SAFE FOODS Promoting food safety through a new integrated risk analysis approach for foods
BIOCOP New Technologies to Screen Multiple Chemical Contaminants in Foods
PATHOGENCOMBAT Control and prevention of emerging and future pathogens at cellular and molecular level throughout the food chain
MONIQA Towards the harmonisation of analytical methods regarding monitoring the hazards for monitoring food quality and safety in the food supply chain
MYCO-GLOBE Integration of Mycotoxin and Toxigenic Fungi Research for Food Safety in Global System

27. FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH FP6
FP6 running projects:
PROSAFEBEEF Improving the safety of beef and beef products for the consumer in production and processing
HIGHQ RTE Innovative non-thermal processing technologies to improve the quality and safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) meals
QALIBRA Quality of Life - Integrated Benefit and Risk Analysis Web-based Tool for Assessing Food Safety and Health Benefits
MREFS A Multimedia Repository on European Food Science: production, quality and safety
CASCADE Chemicals as contaminants in the food chain: An NoE for research, risk assessment, education and information

28. FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH FP7
FP7 Specific Programme: Improved quality and assured microbiological and chemical safety of food and feed, detection methods, risk governance
Inputs from stakeholders (Member States, Advisory Group, European Policies, Strategic Research Review, Technological Platforms…)
Not overlapping with research ongoing in FP6
Limited number of topics in first calls
First calls for FP7:
target publication in December 2006
first deadline April 2007

29. Information EU research: ec.europa.eu/research
Agriculture research: ec.europa.eu/research/agriculture/index_en.html
Seventh Framework Programme: ec.europa.eu/research/future/index_en.cfm
Information on research programmes and projects: cordis.europa.eu
Information sources