(Brussels, 2 March 2011) -- On 1 March, the European Union (EU) funded project “AgriFoodResults” coordinated by ACTIA (FR) hosted a special event to present the latest findings in communication best practice in the field of agri-food research.

Theevent included a special presentation on the innovative communication tool, „‟Virtual Supermarket‟‟ as well as the key results and successful communication techniques that have helped researchers to promote important Framework Programme (FP) 6 and FP7 projects in the agri-food sector across the EU.

A number of project coordinators and communications experts within EU-funded agri-food projects attended together with Maive Rute, Director of the Biotechnologies, Agriculture and Food Directorate of Research and Innovation DG, European Commission.

Speaking at the event, Maive Rute stated that the need for communication in getting exciting ideas, research project findings and new ways of working out to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), policy-makers and the general public, is an increasingly important task in creating the successful Innovation Union flagship initiative.

In addition, the exciting Communication Star Award 2011 was presented at the end of the event. The five members of the jury - representing industry and consumer groups, researchers and policy-makers - were asked to assess projects financed by FP6 or FP7, and, identify this year‟s winners in the categories of small and large projects.

The Awards went to HELENA (“Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence”, Prof. Luis A. Moreno) in the category of small projects and to CASCADE (Chemicals as contaminants in the food chain - a Network of Excellence for research, risk assessment and education, Dr. Ingemar Pongratz) in the category of large projects.

Speaking on behalf of the jury, Mella Frewen, Director General at CIAA (Confédération des Industries Agro-Alimentaires de l´UE), said that she was very pleased to be involved in such a motivating initiative. Helping spread the important findings of FP-funded agri-food research certainly will benefit all stakeholders: industry, most notably SMEs, policy-makers and society at large.

The hope now is that this kind of event could be organised frequently in the future, in a sustainable way, in order to stimulate researchers to improve communication.

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