EuroFIR AISBL - Annual Report 2016

EuroFIR Association Internationale sans but lucratif (AISBL) was founded in 2009 by the EuroFIR Network of Excellence (EU FP6) and, following EuroFIR NEXUS, has evolved into a financially independent Association, based in Brussels (BE). Many of the original 47 EuroFIR partners are members of EuroFIR AISBL, but we have also broadened our membership to include small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as academic and research organisations and individuals, including students from the food and health sector.

EuroFIR continues to use its position in Brussels to further strengthen links with European Institutions (e.g., DG Santé, European Parliament, EFSA, and JRC) and food and trade associations, such as EUFIC and ILSI Europe, non-governmental organisations, and food and biotech industries.

One of the important strategic achievements in 2016 has been EFSA funding for new dietary assessment projects in Central European Countries and the Balkans, led by IMR (RS). These projects will adapt, improve, and implement the EU Menu methodology for a national food consumption survey, prepare national protocols and related documents, undertake a pilot study, and carry out data collection in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Macedonia, before transferring the information collected to EFSA using a structured XML, defined and provided through the EFSA Data Collection Framework. This success demonstrates the importance of our combined efforts since 2009, supporting capacity development in food composition across the Balkan region. Hopefully, these initiatives will also lead to new members from these countries.

Activities such as these widen our outreach amongst stakeholders and potential new members, as well as creating opportunities for new EU-funded and other projects. For example, we are collaborating with both EUFIC and ILSI in RICHFIELDS and iFAAM, respectively, which offers added value and networking capabilities for all involved. Similarly, several of our members are participating in the MetroFood research infrastructure, and we are discussing mutually beneficial activities, such as the relaunch of the EuroFIR Wiki, which also makes available information from TDS-Exposure. We hope that you enjoy reading our Annual Report 2016.