Innovation Field “Food”
In the framework of Synergien.NRW, approaches are developed with which to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations (UN) related to the food sector within the various funding programmes at EU level and in North Rhine-Westphalia and to make synergetic use of them against the background of existing potential in the region.
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Horizon Europe contains direct references to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN. The SDGs “Zero Hunger”, “Good Health and Well-being”, “Clean Water and Sanitation”, “Responsible Consumption and Production”, “Climate Action” and “Life on Land” are directly relevant for the “Food” innovation field (nutrition, water, sustainable agriculture).
Synergien.NRW
In the framework of the Synergien.NRW project, approaches are being developed in the “Food” innovation field regarding how these objectives can be taken up in various EU funding programmes and in North Rhine-Westphalia and where synergy effects can be utilised against the background of existing potential in the region. To this purpose and among others, recommendations for action and strategic concepts for policymakers are being developed and research and innovation stakeholders given concrete support and assistance in leveraging synergy potential.
In the various sectors of the food industry, trends are moving towards sustainable business operations under socially, ecologically and ethically responsible conditions, also making use of technological developments such as digitalisation. For example, turnover in the organic food sector in North Rhine-Westphalia increased from € 2 billion to € 9 billion between 2000 and 2016. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Ministry for Environment, Agriculture, Conservation and Consumer Protection offers a broad portfolio of funding programmes in this area. Some are structured by topic and others by target group.
Events and exchange at regional and European level are also in the planning for the “Food” innovation field.