(Brussels, 6 June 2008). Marking another key milestone in its work programme, the European Technology Platform (ETP) Food for Life presented the revised Implementation Plan to all stakeholders and prepared its future activities.

The gathering of more than 140 opinion leaders, public authorities, academics and industry representatives during a conference in Brussels on 6 June 2008 was instrumental in defining a deployment strategy to strengthen innovation processes, improve knowledge transfer and stimulate competitiveness across the European food chain.

This Implementation Plan (IP) outlines how the research priorities identified in the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of the ETP Food for Life, which was published in September 2007, will be implemented. The IP focuses on three key thrusts that have been derived from the key research challenges of the SRA. While the SRA focused on topics and themes, the IP focuses on activities and actions. The IP has been subjected to stakeholders’ consultations.

These thrusts were defined as research that would lead to products, processes and tools that would:

• improve health, well-being and longevity (key thrust 1);
• build consumer trust in the food chain and provide (key thrust 2);
• derive from sustainable and ethical production (key thrust 3).
  

The IP also addresses the extent to which the priority research activities, defined by the ETP, requires additional resources, new instruments for funding, complementary activities in education and training, and other actions that are necessary for transferring new or existing knowledge into innovation and social benefit. The final IP should be published in July 2008 after the comments gathered during the stakeholder meeting have been integrated.

The discussion on futures activities focused on:

• ETP involvement in the Lead Market initiative (LMI) for the food sector. The ETP has responded to the LMI by identifying the Healthy Foods sector as that sector where the greatest market growth opportunities lie and reflects the increasing consumer desire for a healthy and varied diet.
• Development of closer cooperation with other ETPs, national governments (via the ETP Mirror Group and potential ERA-NETs) and national technology platforms.
  

“I am convinced that the ETP Food for Life represents a unique opportunity for the stakeholders in the European food chain to increase their competitive strength and ensure the continuing well-being and welfare of consumers across Europe. Success will, however, require the long-standing commitment of all these stakeholders,” stated Jan Maat from Unilever and Chairman of the ETP Operational Committee.

For more information about ETP ‘Food for Life’ please visit http://etp.ciaa.eu.