The Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU together with the Directorate General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission (DG RTD) is organising a conference on the main drivers for research and innovation in European food chains. The European Technology Platform “Food for Life”, the Hellenic Technology Platform “Food for Life” & the Federation of Hellenic Food Industries (SEVT) are also supporting the conference.
The aim is to discuss research and innovation as valuable tools for fostering the competitiveness of the European food sector and for promoting healthy and safe diets among Europe’s citizens. Conference contributions will showcase examples of excellence, both from Europe and worldwide.
The conference covers the following activities:
- Discussing the effects of the main drivers of change on the whole food chain – from primary production to the ‘healthy consumer’ – taking into account the development of relevant EU policies, sustainability and measures to support market development for innovative food products and processes.
- Assessing the contribution of successful European projects and of existing synergies in shaping the future research priorities within the Horizon 2020 (2014-2020).
- Explaining how the new European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation – Horizon 2020 – will tackle the challenges along the food and value chains.
- Raising awareness on research opportunities for food industries, especially SMEs, and fostering their participation in the EU-supported RTD activities.
In the margins of the conference the Board meetings of the European Technology Platform “Food for Life” and the Hellenic Technology Platform “Food for Life”will take place.
The Conference will be held in the ‘Megaro Mousikis Athinon’ (Athens Concert Hall), Athens, Greece on 10-11 March 2014. The meeting will start at 9:00am on 10 March and will end at 16:20pm on 11 March 2014. Further details on the venue, where to stay and how to get there, will be communicated to participants upon confirmation of their invitations.
If you would like to get informed about registration opening or if you have any preliminary queries please send us an email at the following address: RTD-FOODEVENT-2014@ec.europa.eu.
CONFERENCE
“RESEARCH AND INNOVATION TO FOSTER THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE EUROPEAN AGRI-FOOD AND SEAFOOD SECTORS”
ATHENS
10 – 11 MARCH 2014
DRAFT PROGRAMME
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March 9, 2014 |
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18:30 – 19:30 |
Sightseeing Acropolis Museum (upon invitation only - Kindly offered by the Hellenic Federation of Food Industries) |
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20:00 – 22:00 |
Networking dinner (upon invitation only) |
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March 10, 2014 |
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08:30- 09:00 |
Registration |
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09:00- 10:00 |
Welcoming speeches |
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Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Science, Research and Innovation (tbc) |
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Dacian Cioloş, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development (tbc) |
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Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs & Fisheries (tbc) |
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Kostis Chatzidakis, Minister of Development & Competitiveness (tbc) |
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Kostantinos. Arvanitopoulos, Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Culture and Sports (tbc) |
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Athanassios Tsaftaris, Minister of Rural Development and Food (tbc) |
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Evangelos Kalousis, President of Federation of Hellenic Food Industries |
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Jesus Serafin Perez, President of FoodDrinkEurope |
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10:00 – 10:50 |
Session 1: Research and Innovation as key tools to boost the competitiveness of the agri-food and seafood sectors and ensure the production and promotion of safe and healthy diets. Chair: Tassos Haniotis, European Commission, Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development, Director, Directorate for Economic analysis, perspectives and evaluations |
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10:00 -10:20 |
The importance and contribution of research and innovation to economic growth in Europe and particularly Greece. Christos Vasilakos, General Secretary For Research & Technology (tbc) |
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10:20 – 10:50 |
Research and innovation initiatives for the agri-food and seafood sectors in developed countries and emerging economies: examples from the EU, US, Japan and China President of National Council for Research and Technology (ESET) (tbc) |
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10:50 -11:20 |
Coffee break |
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10:50 -11:20 |
Press Conference (upon invitation only) |
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11:20 – 12:30 |
Session 2: Innovation in research and enterprises Chair: Daniele Rossi, Vice - Chair European Technology Platform “Food for Life” |
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11:20-11:40 |
Opportunities for agri-food and seafood research in HORIZON 2020, from production to the consumer. Patrik Kolar, European Commission , Directorate General for Research and Innovation, Head of Unit for Food, Health and Well-being (tbc) |
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11:40-12:00 |
Opportunities for food SMEs from HORIZON 2020 Daniele Rossi |
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12:00-12:30 |
Technology transfer and innovation support tools: Case studies from EIT, EEN, KIC and JPI Lisbeth Munksgaard, Aalborg University Copenhagen, Denmark Julian Drausinger, Lebensmittel Vertrauen Analysen (LVA), Austria |
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12:30 – 14:00 |
Lunch Break |
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14:00 – 16:30 |
Session 3: Sustainable Food Security: The primary production side Chair: – Patrik Kolar (tbc) |
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14:00-14:20 |
Sustainable Food Security: Challenges for EU agriculture Tassos Haniotis |
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14:20-14:40 |
Sustainable food production from competitive agriculture David Baldock, Executive Director of the Institute for European Environmental Policy |
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14:40 – 15:00 |
Eco-innovation in primary food production Sebastien Treyer, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) |
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15:00-15:30 |
Coffee break |
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15:30-15:50 |
Sustainable seafood production from competitive European fisheries Fitz Köster, National Institute of Aquatic Resources - DTU Aqua |
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15:50 - 16:10 |
Sustainable seafood production from competitive European aquaculture Courtney Hough, Secretary of European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATIP) |
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16.10 - 16.20 |
Blue Growth in the context of the new marine strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Seas Christos Theophilou, European Commission, Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Unit for Maritime policy, Mediterranean and Black Sea |
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16:20 - 16.50 |
Discussion |
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17:00 – 18:00 |
Board meeting of the European Technology Platform “Food for Life” |
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March 11, 2014 |
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09:00 - 16:20 |
Session 4: Sustainable and competitive agri-food and seafood sectors for a safe and healthy diet Chair: Volker Heinz, Director and CEO of German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) |
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09:00 - 09:20 |
Major challenges to European agri–food industries Michael E. Knowles, Chair of European Technology Platform “Food for Life” |
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09:20 – 09:40 |
Supporting market development for innovative food products and processes Beate Kettlitz, Director of Food Policy, Science & R& D, FoodDrinkEurope |
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09:40 - 10:00 |
Innovation in food technologies Volker Heinz |
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10:00 - 10:20 |
Food wastage: An industry priority with environmental, social and economic impact Toine Timmermans, Coordinator of FUSIONS FP7 Project, Wageningen UR |
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10:20-10:50 |
Coffee break |
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10:50 - 11:10 |
Safe and healthy foods and diets: a constant priority of EU policy Andreas Menidiatis, European Commission, Directorate General for Health and Consumers, Adviser, Directorate for Safety of the Food Chain |
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11:10 - 11:30 |
Healthy Nutrition, Healthy People Artemis Simopoulos, The Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, Washington, USA |
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11:30 - 11:50 |
The Mediterranean Diet: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Dimitrios Melas, General Secretary of Agricultural Policy and International Relations, Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food (tbc) |
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11:50 - 12:10 |
Dietary needs of an ageing population Antonia Trichopoulou, Director WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition |
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12:10 - 12:30 |
Networking of Member States for a healthy diet and a healthy life Pamela Byrne, Chair of Joint Programming Initiative “A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life” |
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12:30 - 14:00 |
Lunch break |
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14:00 - 14:20 |
EU research in the service of EFSA´s Risk Assessment Hubert Deluyker, Scientific Adviser of European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) |
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14:20-14:40 |
A ”One-health approach” to tackling foodborne outbreaks Frank Møller Aarestrup, DTU – National Food Institute, Denmark |
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14:40 - 15:00 |
Informed consumer choices: The use of modern communication technologies by industry Partick Wall, University College Dublin (tbc) |
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15:00 - 15:30 |
Coffee break |
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15:30 - 15:50 |
Research achievements and future priorities for sustainable agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries and industrial food productions Ulf Sonesson, SIK - The Institute for Food & Biotechnology |
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15:50 - 16:20 |
Discussion – Closing Session |
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16:30 - 18:00 |
15th Meeting of the National Technology Platforms “Food for Life” |