What's it all about?
FOOD-FRENZ: An invitation to European Researchers to visit and collaborate with New Zealand Research and Industry Organisations
The domestic availability and export of safe, high value and innovative food products is seen as essential for continued sustainable economic development in both the EU (European Technology Platform on Food for Life) and NZ (Food & Beverage Taskforce). The similarities between the food industries and consumers in these regions and their forward strategies provide opportunities for mutual benefits to be gained by working together.
In support of this the European Commission has part-funded a two year project, called FOOD-FRENZ, with the aim of contributing to the food industry sectors in Europe and New Zealand by promoting collaboration between research and industry groups. These collaborations, within and between research organisations in the EU and NZ, will be informed by foresight on consumer demands and will be targeted around the key areas of food safety, personalised foods (diet and health), sustainable food production systems, animal health and welfare and innovative technologies. FOOD-FRENZ builds upon an existing science and technology cooperation arrangement between the EC and NZ, and also reflects a joint view expressed from a 2006 meeting of EC and NZ representatives that identified food, agriculture, biotechnology and health, as areas of particular interest for collaboration.
An important part of FOOD-FRENZ, aimed at strengthening existing scientific relationships and initiating new research collaborations is the provision of funds to support study visits for twenty EU researchers, involved in industry or research - based organisations, to visit NZ. The visitors will be hosted by leading research and industry organisations in NZ, for a period of about two to three weeks, and will use this time together to share knowledge and to develop ideas for future joint research collaboration, including proposals for the EC Seventh Framework Programme.
The NZ research organisations that participate in FOOD-FRENZ and are study visit hosts are
- Crop and Food Research
- Institute of Environmental Science & Research (ESR)
- HortResearch
- AgResearch
- Auckland University
- Massey University
- Lincoln University and
- Fonterra Ltd
The project is co-ordinated from Europe by the Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA). The University Of Newcastle (UNEW) in the United Kingdom is the other European partner.
