AGRI-FOOD POLICIES: FROM VOLUNTARY GOALS TO MANDATORY FRAMEWORKS

The European agri-food sector is undergoing a structural transformation, driven by the EU Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy. This shift represents a transition from fragmented, voluntary initiatives toward a unified legislative framework for sustainable food systems. The objective is to mainstream sustainability across all EU policies, moving the industry toward a regime where environmental and social accountability are integrated into the core of the regulatory architecture.

In this context, the primary challenge for international consortia is no longer limited to technical discovery. Success now depends on the ability to align innovation with these high-level institutional benchmarks. By identifying the intersection between emerging policy goals and scientific research, we provide the necessary foundation to ensure that project outcomes are not just technically sound, but strategically positioned to contribute to the future of European food standards.

OUR FOCUS: FROM RESEARCH FINDINGS TO POLICY-READY RESULTS

We focus on the pragmatic assessment of research findings against the current and evolving EU policy framework. Rather than acting as data processors, our role is to identify the specific regulatory requirements and potential barriers that arise when aligning new technologies with European strategic goals. By highlighting these hurdles at the research stage, we help partners navigate the practical challenges of translating a technical breakthrough into a result that is “policy-ready” for institutional recognition.

This focus provides a grounded perspective on the feasibility of European market entry and policy integration. We examine how technical results align—or potentially conflict—with existing safety standards, nomenclatures, and the rigorous evidentiary requirements of EU bodies. By pinpointing these “friction points” early in the innovation lifecycle, we enable consortia to refine their strategies, ensuring that R&D efforts are informed by a realistic understanding of the legal landscape. This ensures that the transition from laboratory to institutional adoption is built on a transparent, legally informed, and credible foundation.

Furthermore, our focus extends to providing a technical-legal grounding for professional networks, including safety officers, nutritionists, and consultants who must implement complex EU directives with precision. This ensures that new standards are applied consistently and accurately across the industry. Finally, we place a high priority on the intersection of policy and the Third Sector, engaging with consumer and environmental associations to ensure that the transition toward new agri-food paradigms remains socially inclusive, ethically grounded, and protective of the fundamental rights of citizens.

PROVEN IMPACT: ALIGNING DATA WITH POLICY

Our contribution in large-scale European projects demonstrates our dedication to influence the direction of EU food policy:

Harmonizing Waste Metrics

In the WASTELESS project, we proposed the normative architecture to synchronize commercial logistics with official EU statistical nomenclatures. This work directly supports the EU’s goal of creating a unified monitoring system for food loss and waste.

Advocating for the Protein Transition

As a key actor in the Horizon4Proteins cluster, within the Profuture project, we lead the advocacy for alternative proteins, co-authoring policy briefs that identify and dismantle the “regulatory ceilings” hindering the EU’s dietary shift.

Standardizing Circularity

We act as the legal bridge in the EcoeFISHent consortium, authoring best-practice frameworks that align regional pilot results with European legislative reforms in the Blue Economy.