THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE: A SYSTEMIC SHIFT IN FOOD STANDARDS

The global agrifood sector, and especially the European context, is currently navigating a profound structural shift in regulatory requirements. Beyond the foundational “from farm to fork” safety standards, new paradigms are emerging: the digitalization of traceability, the rigorous scrutiny of environmental claims, and the harmonization of cross-border trade agreements.

These trends represent a transition where compliance is no longer a static checklist but a dynamic, strategic necessity. For international consortia, the primary challenge lies in ensuring that technical innovation—whether in biotechnology, logistics, or circularity—is built on a legally sound architecture that guarantees market access across the European Single Market and beyond.

OUR FOCUS: NAVIGATING THE MULTI-STAKEHOLDER REGULATORY LANDSCAPE

This evolving landscape in the agri-food ecosystem requires a sophisticated understanding of how diverse interests intersect with European law. Our focus is directed toward the harmonization of the entire industrial value chain, where we navigate the transition from primary production and livestock to the complexities of global logistics and large-scale retail (GDO). By focusing on the alignment of industrial processes with evolving EU safety and quality standards, we ensure that “Made in Italy” excellence and international supply chains are built on a foundation of total compliance.

A central pillar of our knowledge base is the intersection of technical R&D and institutional validation. We focus on translating scientific breakthroughs into the rigorous, evidence-based dossiers required to substantiate nutritional profiles, health claims, and safety protocols. This role as a technical-legal bridge allows for a direct interface with public administrations and regulatory agencies such as EFSA and the JRC. Our objective is to ensure that project outcomes are “policy-ready”—translating technical results into the official nomenclatures that drive legislative progress.

Furthermore, we extend our focus to the social and ethical dimensions of the food system, recognizing that legal architecture must protect the rights of vulnerable consumers. Through active collaboration with the Third Sector and consumer associations, we advocate for transparency and circularity. This ensures that innovations—particularly in alternative proteins and upcycling—are not only commercially viable but are also socially responsible and ethically sound within the broader environmental health framework.

PROVEN IMPACT: LESSONS FROM INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIA

Our ability to navigate these diverse perspectives is demonstrated through our role in high-impact European projects:

Cross-Border Harmonization:

In the CAMELMILK project, we successfully bridged the legal gap between Mediterranean production systems (Algeria, Turkey) and EU safety standards, creating the legal pathway for traditional products to enter the European market.

Circular Economy Architecture:

In the EcoeFISHent and WASTELESS projects, we contributed to design the normative frameworks required for transforming industrial side-streams into certified raw materials, navigating the complex interplay between waste legislation and food/feed safety.

Novel Food De-risking:

Through the ProFuture project, we examined the regulatory constraints for microalgae, developing “Joint Authorization” strategies that allow diverse partners to share the evidentiary burdens of EFSA dossiers.