The FutureFoodS partnership is seeking qualified experts to participate in evaluating proposals for their upcoming funding calls. This could be an excellent opportunity for professionals in food sustainability, research, and innovation to contribute their expertise and shape the future of food systems.

The International Expert Panel (IEP) will review proposals that align with FutureFoodS’ goals of advancing sustainable food practices and innovations. By joining, experts will play a key role in selecting high-impact projects aiming to address pressing global food challenges, such as food security, sustainable production, and the environmental impact of food systems.

Information about the specific qualifications and requirements needed to join the panel is available in the call for experts is available at this link.

Key Funding Schemes in the 2025 Programme

The 2025 EIC work programme allocates funding across four major schemes:

1. EIC Pathfinder
   Funding: €262 million
   Grants up to €4 million will be awarded to multi-disciplinary research teams tackling visionary, high-risk projects that have the potential to deliver breakthrough technologies.
2. EIC Transition
   Funding: €98 million
   Aimed at turning research results into viable innovation opportunities, the EIC Transition scheme will offer grants of up to €2.5 million to further develop promising results from EIC Pathfinder projects, ERC Proof of Concept, and Horizon Pillar 2 collaborative projects.
3. EIC Accelerator
   Funding: €634 million
   Designed to help start-ups and SMEs develop and scale high-impact innovations, EIC Accelerator will provide grants of up to €2.5 million, along with equity investments ranging from €0.5 million to €10 million. This scheme focuses on innovations with potential to create new markets or transform existing ones.
4. STEP Scale Up
   Funding: €300 million
   The STEP Scale Up programme will provide additional equity funding to promising SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and small mid-caps operating in critical technology areas. Investments range from €10 million to €30 million, helping these companies secure private co-investment for further scaling.

Supporting Innovation Across Europe

The EIC 2025 programme offers numerous resources to support applicants and highlight the programme’s impact, including information days, downloadable factsheets, FAQs, and a dedicated podcast series. The programme also includes videos on key challenges and statements from the EIC Board, all aimed at guiding innovators toward realizing their potential in strategic sectors.
More info here

A new study on virtual social labs implementation has been published in the Journal of Responsible Technology (2024), by Maria Schrammel and Ilse Marschalek of ZSI, Zentrum für Soziale Innovation GmbH, as a partner of the FoodSafety4EU project.
The FoodSafety4EU participatory process gave the stage for exploring, experimenting, testing and standardizing how to conduct successful social laboratories in a virtual mode, through the implementation of four FSOLabs, that have been successfully organized online and conducted by Social Lab Managers:
FSOLab 1: Niels van der Linden & Pieternel Luning – Wageningen University & Research
FSOLab 2: Michael Rychlik & Tamara Steltz -Technical University of Munich
FSOLab 3: Denisa E. Duta IBA BUCURESTI & Biancamaria Ciasca CNR ISPA
FSOLab 4: Line Friis Lindner ISEKI-Food Association
supported by Food Safety Hub Leaders:
Monika Tomaniová UCT Prague – Veronica Lattanzio CNR ISPA – Sarah De Saeger UGENT – Hanna-Leena Alakomi VTT.

Abstract:

In response to the challenges posed by the complex field of food safety, the FOODSAFETY4EU project established social labs. Due to COVID-19 pandemic the lab process, typically held in-person, had to be converted to the virtual space. This means that all workshops, meetings, and collaboration processes and the pilot activity implementation solely took place online. This resulted in the novel situation of teams collaborating virtually throughout the labs. Virtual collaborations were already on the rise before the pandemic, evidenced by an increase in virtual meetings and workshops.
This study examines the requirements and limitations for online settings to be effective in virtual social lab processes. It investigates virtual collaboration, team dynamics, and the use of online tools. Findings reveal advantages such as increased participation, but also drawbacks including technical issues and role accountability. Despite challenges, all four virtual social labs finally succeeded in engaging diverse stakeholders and achieving significant outcomes.

Download the publication below!

An interesting article published in Trends In Food Science and Technology presents the Self-evaluation Tool for Risk Communication (SET) as a result of collaboration between experts from the SafeConsume Horizon 2020 funded project and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Abstract:
Background: Food safety risk communication is part of the risk analysis methodology and plays an important role in the increasingly complex food system. Besides shaping consumer risk awareness, risk perception and risk behaviour, risk communication also affects the reputation of the food safety authorities, being especially important for securing operational stability and budget of the concerned organisations. A recent European study highlighted a high variance in risk communication preparedness of official institutions in EU member countries.
Scope and approach: This paper presents a benchmarking instrument, the Self-evaluation Tool for Risk Communication (SET), designed for food safety authorities. SET helps decision-makers to receive a quick assessment of their preparedness level for risk communication by comparing it with international best practices.
Key findings and conclusions: SET divides risk communication competencies into three domains: Human capacities, Organisational management, and Risk communication activities. Several elements are assessed in each domain, evaluated on a scale from 0 to 3. The results are delivered instantly, benchmarking the scores in terms of domains and the individual elements. The data wheel visualization highlights strengths and weaknesses and points out logical improvement options for the organisation.

Download the publication below!

Food Safety and Artificial Intelligence: how AI can truly transform strategies for preventing food risks?
The new discussion paper, edited by Agroknow in the framework of the EFRA EU project, gathers position statements by strategic players of the EU Food Safety scenario, including academies, research centres, industry professionals, and organizations.
The EU Food Safety Platform position statement highlights the role of AI in unravelling and managing
food safety risks in the future. This has been explored in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Food Safety in Europe (FS4EU SRIA), recently released by the FoodSafety4EU project.

As a Science-Policy-Society interface, the EU Food Safety Platform underlines the need “for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the interface between scientific advice and food risk management. AI based modelling and computational tools enable faster information gathering, synthesis, and analysis. Such tools will therefore facilitate evidence-based decision-making, also during food safety incidents, leading to improved crisis management, resource allocation, and response strategies.”

Download the report below!

The FS4EU project posters give a visual exploration dedicated to food safety, by showcasing results and practices designed by the multi-stakeholders platform to tackle current challenges and promote a sustainable Food Safety System.
The posters are downloadable below.

Proficiency testing is one of the approved methods to evaluate a laboratory’s performance, as it allows laboratories to consistently audit the quality of their output by participating in inter-laboratory comparisons.
Discover the approach developed by our partner LCG AXIO !

The report outlines priority research areas that would advance the risk assessment and risk management work of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and support the protection of public health. They are listed under broad topic headings, and they include suggestions for major research projects as well as smaller desk research studies.

Ongoing calls relevant to food safety in Europe, under Horizon Europe, LIFE and other programmes in 2024 second half.

EUBA-EFSA-2024-BIOHAW-02: Animal Welfare: heat stress in livestock during transport

Opening date: 28 May 2024 – Deadline: 31 July 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-03: Sustainable, bio-based alternatives for crop protection

Opening date: 24 April 2024 – Deadline: 18 September 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-02: Biotech routes to obtain bio-based chemicals/ materials replacing animal-derived ones

Opening date: 24 April 2024 – Deadline: 18 September 2024

LIFE-2024-SAP-ENV-GOV: Environment governance

Opening date: 18 April 2024 – Deadline: 19 September 2024

LIFE-2024-PLP-NAT-ENV: Projects on Legislative and Policy Priorities in the fields of Nature & Biodiversity and Circular Economy & Quality of Life

Opening date: 18 April 2024 – Deadline: 19 September 2024

HORIZON-CL6-2024-FARM2FORK-03-1: Spotlight on plant priority pest: fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

Opening date: 8 May 2024 – Deadline: 24 September 2024

EUBA-EFSA-2024-PLANTS-02-02: Lot 2 Pests of cereal and fibre crops

Opening date: 30 May 2024 – Deadline: 25 September 2024

EUBA-EFSA-2024-PLANTS-02-01: LOT 1 Begomoviruses and their vector Bemisia tabaci

Opening date: 30 May 2024 – Deadline: 25 September 2024

HORIZON-HLTH-2024-DISEASE-09-01: European Partnership: One Health Anti-Microbial Resistance

Opening date: 25 April 2024 – Deadline: 25 September 2024

HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-06-01: Hop on Facility

Opening date: 10 January 2023 (multiple cut-off) – Deadline: 26 September 2024

HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01-05: Soil health, pollinators and key ecosystem functions

Opening date: 8 May 2024 – Deadline: 8 October 2024

HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01-06: Harnessing the multifunctional potential of soil biodiversity for healthy cropping systems

Opening date: 8 May 2024 – Deadline: 8 October 2024

COST – European Cooperation in Science & Technology : Open Call for new COST Actions

Deadline: 23 October 2024

EUBA-EFSA-2024-BIOHAW-01: Pathway to animal welfare quantitative risk assessment: piloting a standardised collection of Animal Based Measures in pigs

Opening date: 23 May 2024 – Deadline:14 November 2024

HORIZON-CL3-2024-DRS-01-01: Prevention, detection, response and mitigation of chemical, biological and radiological threats to agricultural production, feed and food processing, distribution and consumption

Opening date: 27 June 2024 – Deadline: 20 November 2024

EUREKA: Open call for Network projects applications

Opening date: 1 January 2020 – Deadline: 31 December 2025

A new opportunity to shape the future of science and technology through interdisciplinary collaboration comes from the 2024 Open Call for new COST Action proposals.
The call is set to close on October 23, 2024, at 12.00 (noon) CEST.

COST Actions provide a gateway for dynamic research networks, spanning all scientific and technological domains, including emerging fields. With a bottom-up approach, individuals can propose networks aligned with their interests and ideas.