A thematic network focusing on fruit production in the European Union has been launched, with the ambition of unleashing, stimulating and using Europe’s research potential to exploit new opportunities in the fresh produce category. Called EUFRUIT, it brings together 21 partners from 12 different countries and is being funded under the Horizon 2020 programme.
Launched in early March in Brussels, EUFRUIT brings together both research institutes (including ENDURE partners Aarhus University and INRA) and organisations representing Europe’s fresh fruit sector. It will focus on four areas in particular, which it sees as crucial for the competitiveness and innovation potential of the European fruit sector:
EUFRUIT says it will act as a knowledge platform while providing unique networking opportunities for academics and research partners, those working in the fruit business and decision makers. EUFRUIT will be seeking to ensure that existing research is fully exploited by the fruit sector, maximising research investment into the effective exchange of best practices and converting knowledge into innovative agriculture practices across Europe.
To help ensure the dissemination of project outcomes to the fresh produce sector, the network includes both AREFLH (Association of the Regions producing fruit, vegetables and horticultural products) and Freshfel Europe (European fruit and vegetables Association).
EUFRUIT is being coordinated by Michelle Williams (pictured right), head of the Department of Food Science at Denmark’s Aarhus University and current chair of the board of EUFRIN, an informal network of university departments and research institutes for temperate fruit crops. After the launch, she said: “I am very pleased that the project managed to gather so many different and experienced partners and successfully received the support of the European Commission.
“EUFRUIT will fill an important gap by enhancing research cooperation across Europe and will foster exchange of knowledge for the benefit of the fruit sector. In the project we are committed to build an efficient instrument to enhance the competitiveness of a very important segment of the agricultural economy of the European Union.”
With a total budget of €1.8 million, EUFRUIT will be seeking to establish a systematic approach for knowledge gathering and dissemination over the next three years. This, it says, will be facilitated by harmonising methodologies for the scanning and synthesis of knowledge, and fostering exchanges of best practises and technologies reviewed by international experts in its four priorities areas. Importantly, it will ensure a direct path for new knowledge and reduce the likelihood of repetition of research at a national level.
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