http://ec.europa.eu//research/index.cfm?pg=whatsnew en Fri, 24 May 2013 14:46:44 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss For more RSS news feeds click the link above. Fri, 24 May 2013 14:46:44 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_21_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29093 Europe’s food industry is constantly evolving and adapting – so much so, that it has become one of the most important and dynamic industrial sectors. EU research plays a key role too, with a focus on consumer perceptions and attitudes towards food and nutrition, as well as innovation through advanced technologies in traditional food production, food quality and better understanding of the environmental impact of food. It is estimated that food, together with drinks, has created an industry with a combined annual turnover in excess of EUR 900 billion – this is the single largest manufacturing sector in the EU in terms of turnover, value addition and employment. Indeed, in times of serious unemployment growth in the EU, the food industry is able to maintain jobs, and this adds to the social dimension of the industry. But it’s an area that calls for further research and development, which is why emphasis has been placed on inspiring the next generation of scientists and technologists to explore a career in food. ]]> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-21:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_21_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29093 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_17_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29013 Health and diet are important factors for many Europeans when doing their weekly shopping: safe, nutritious and affordable food is top of their list. Food labels have become a pivotal part of the consumer shopping experience, and there is heightened interest in the process from farm to fork, in all aspects of the food chain. Indeed, significant changes have taken place in food safety within the last 10 years since the arrival of the General Food Law, which laid down the fundamental principles for food safety in Europe. It also illustrated a defining moment in food safety where the European Union used a science-based approach as the way forward.]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-17:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_17_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29013 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_11_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=28940 As a society, we are becoming more aware of the many ways we can help support sustainable development and preserve the environment. Governments, scientists and international organisations are calling attention to soil: the basis for more than 90 % of world food production. With one in eight inhabitants of the world suffering from hunger, ensuring soil is managed and restored for global food security is vital. Soil is also important for sustainable development, and supports ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation.]]> Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-11:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_11_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=28940 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-ecesvp&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28763 Veterinary pathologists contribute vital expertise to a wide range of fields, particularly food safety, the monitoring of animal health and welfare, the diagnosis of new, emerging diseases, animal models for human diseases and the development of new drugs. ]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-12-19:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-ecesvp&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28763 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-medisco&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28675 We are in Domaine Neferis, one of Tunisia's most famous wineries. This 460 hectare vineyard is located in a green and prosperous area of the country where agriculture is the main industry. Making the perfect wine is an arduous process at the best of times. It demands a lot of sun, good soil, water and cold temperatures. But how do you install an environmentally friendly and sustainable cooling system in a country so warm? ]]> Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-12-13:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-medisco&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28675 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_10_19_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=27573 Cod was once a staple diet across many European countries, and so important in fact that in the past some countries have even gone to war over this important resource. Their popularity, however, meant that they have become overfished in some areas leading to a shortage of large and old cod, which in turn has led to the fish becoming more sexually mature at a younger age. This, according to research conducted by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden has led to a serious change in cod stocks and could severely impact the fish's health, physiological ageing and reproductive capacity.]]> Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-10-19:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_10_19_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=27573 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-conanx&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=25493 Food safety and security are high priority issues for the European Union at present and are at the core of current concerns of citizens, media and academics. With few exceptions, academic research on food has been fragmented, with too little interaction between food scientists, health researchers and social scientists.]]> Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-06-27:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-conanx&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=25493 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-chill-on&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=25333 Few would dispute that the emergence of chilled and frozen food technologies in the last century was a major advance for modern society, transforming all our lives and bringing convenience and choice. In Europe today, consumption of chilled and frozen foods is rising by more than 10% a year.]]> Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-06-19:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-chill-on&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=25333 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_04_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24753 The people of Denmark are not only concerned about what they eat, but they are willing to pay more tax to eat healthier and make more informed eating choices. The results of this study come at a time when healthy eating and increasing rates of obesity are becoming a major concern for people the world over. Despite this concern, however, government policy actions have rarely been evaluated. The findings are an outcome of the EU-funded EATWELL ('Interventions to promote healthy eating habits: evaluation and recommendations') project, which has received EUR 2.5 million under the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' Theme of the FP7.]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-04-27:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_04_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24753 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_04_13_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24533 Pregnant women can eat two servings of fish-farmed salmon each week, as it is beneficial to them and their children, according to a new study from Spain. The fish should be enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. Presented in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study was funded in part by the SIPS ('Salmon in pregnancy study)' project, supported under the FP7.]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-04-13:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_04_13_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24533 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_04_10_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24473 Researchers in China, Italy and the United Kingdom have discovered what gene is responsible for blood orange pigmentation, and how it is controlled. The results, presented in the journal The Plant Cell, could help improve the growth of health-promoting blood oranges and lead to novel solutions for patients suffering from cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. The study was partially supported by two EU-funded projects: FLORA and ATHENA.]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-04-10:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_04_10_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24473 http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=testimonials&video=none Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-03-09:/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=testimonials&video=none http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_02_20_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=23953 Consumers use nutrition labels to make informed decisions about eating the 'right' foods for better health. But new research from Europe shows how there are limitations on how these labels can be used in real-life situations. The results are an outcome of the FLABEL ('Food labelling to advance better education for life ') project, which has clinched almost EUR 2.9 million in funding under the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' (European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy or KBBE) Theme of the EU's FP7. ]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-02-20:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_02_20_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=23953 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_02_09_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=23873 We're constantly on the go, and products that make our lives easier are always welcome. But keeping products safe is important. This is especially true for the food industry. When fats, oils and other food components are oxidised, the foods we eat lose nutrients and colours. Steering clear of oxidation is crucial for food packaging. An EU-funded team of researchers has developed a biomaterial from whey protein as well as a commercially viable method of producing multifunctional films on an industrial scale. This is steps ahead of the conventional films based on petrochemicals. ]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-02-09:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_02_09_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=23873 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_02_01_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=23813 Natural food does not always mean safe food. EU-funded researchers have discovered that the compounds found in some botanicals and botanical preparations, such as plant food supplements, may be detrimental to one's health. Presented in the journal Food and Nutrition Sciences, the study was funded in part by the PLANTLIBRA ('Plant food supplements: levels of intake, benefit and risk assessment') project, which is backed with nearly EUR 6 million under the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' Theme of the FP7.]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-02-01:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_02_01_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=23813 http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=press#other Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-01-31:/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=press/other http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_01_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=23753 It's safe to say that Europeans love their bread. Whether it's Germany's dark pumpernickel or France's baguette, Europeans enjoy consuming this starchy food. A team of researchers led by Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania believes that Europeans are now baking their own, or buying it from their local bakeries. The results are part of the FERMFOOD ('Fermented products by using lactic acid bacteria with antimicrobial activity for bread production') project, which is supported under EUREKA, the European platform for research and development. ]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-01-27:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_01_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=23753 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=69&item=Infocentre&artid=23654 Dalvik, in the north of Iceland, is a fishing port which supplies fish to destinations all over Europe including France. We follow a batch of cod which was caught well above the Arctic Circle. ]]> Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-01-19:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=69&item=Infocentre&artid=23654