EU research needs conference begins

The two-day conference, sponsored with EU funds, aims to anticipate the food industry's research needs by 2030 and to develop an action plan that helps keep it competitive in the face of globalisation. "New challenges induced by globalisation require a good understanding of the triggers of future changes, the inter-relationship between such triggers and their potential impact on major European sectors such as the food industry in order for Europe to remain competitive worldwide and to overcome emerging threats,"​ conference organisers say in their blurb on the conference. Perspectives for Food 2030 will bring together experts from the fields of food technology, retailing, consumer behaviour, economists, and industry. This afternoon Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, the executive director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), is scheduled to chair a session on the market forces driving food demand. Jean Martin, president of the Confederation of Food and Drink Industries, and Gerd Worlfram, managing director of Metro's Future Store technology arm, will be participating. Wednesday's session kicks off with a discussion on new technologies in food production.