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CONSENSUS WORKSHOPS: consumers, scientists and stakeholders from the whole food and feed chain co-operating to identify and define consensus areas on key food issues, and linking these with EU food policy and the European Research Agenda.
This project, co-ordinated by BEUC (the European Consumers' Organisation) is funded by the European Commission under the Fifth Framework Programme - Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources - Key Action 1 on Food, Nutrition and Health.
Its purpose is to bring consumers (from EU and accession countries) and scientists together with other stakeholders, in CONSENSUS WORKSHOPS. These workshops will create a discussion platform to stimulate interactive dialogue to identify areas of consensus between consumer representatives, food and consumer scientists, primary food producers, food and feed manufacturers, retailers, policymakers and legislators. It should also be possible to define the areas of disagreement that will need further work.
Through this a better understanding of all perspectives in the food chain will emerge which can better inform EU decision-makers with respect to future developments in food policy.
A series of three workshops have been held, each addressing the key topics identified as being most important to European consumers, respectively: FOOD SAFETY; NOVEL FOOD; and NUTRITION.
Objectives
To address these issues, the project has the following specific objectives:
• to set up a series of workshops around the topics of food safety, novel foods and nutrition;
• to demystify food science and new food technologies for all stakeholders - and especially consumers - on the top priority issues;
• to share perspective from different viewpoints along the food chain and to better understand other stakeholders;
•  to identify areas of agreement and disagreement which will require future attention.
Longer-term objectives will aim:
• to initiate dialogue between consumers and scientists for the exchange and transfer of knowledge, with the participation of other stakeholders;
• to identify targets for further research within the European Research Agenda;
• to establish networks and better communication between stakeholders;
• to increase trust in scientific advice in relation to food.
Project management
The project is formally coordinated by BEUC. The organisation and management of the project is overseen by a Steering Committee comprising equal numbers of participants from the whole food and feed chain: consumer representatives, key EU scientists, and other stakeholders' groups. European Commission officials from DG SANCO represent the views of regulators, and DG RESEARCH, the future EU research agenda.
• Members of the Steering Committee
Participants
All BEUC members are invited to participate in the workshops along with representatives from other stak