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Unexpected development: Lund University selected to join European multimillion euro investment in food research

Woman shopping in the supermarket
More healthy food products in the shops and more sustainable production: these are the goals of the EU’s major food initiative which now includes Lund University.

It worked out – in the end. The enormous European investment in food development, “Food KIC”, did not go to the consortium of which Lund University was a part in 2016. But that was then. Now the board of the winning network, EIT Food, has decided that Lund University is to become a full member of their network instead.

More healthy food products in the shops and more sustainable production: these are the goals of the EU’s major food initiative which now includes Lund University.

From a purely practical perspective, the membership means that Lund University gets the opportunity to take part in shaping the focus of the investments. And above all: to apply for the annual funds – several hundred million Euros – that are earmarked over a seven-year period for research and development projects.

Revenues from new research projects are expected to exceed by a wide margin the annual membership fee of SEK 1 million that the University must disburse.

“Yes, EIT Food is a major investment, both financially and in the form of commitment, and we welcome the opportunities for European collaborations that follow in its wake. The investment could benefit a continued strong global position for the European food sector”, says Yvonne Granfeldt, professor of food technology at Lund University’s Faculty of Engineering.

A great deal of lobbying lies behind the admission to EIT Food, which is now increasing its membership from 50 to 52 universities and companies. Besides Lund University, Aarhus University in Denmark is also a new member. Lund University is the only Swedish university to be included.

“This work has been going on for close to ten years and originated in a regional Öresund collaboration on the food sector”, explains Bengt Streijffert, a senior advisor at Lund University who has been involved from the outset.

The explanation for the inclusion is that Lund University is far ahead in the food research and education field in areas that the network needs, according to Yvonne Granfeldt.

“One unique area is packaging and logistics, which was lacking within the consortium. We also have experience of innovation and collaboration with the food industry, in both start-ups and world-leading companies, which is in high demand. Another valuable asset is our knowledge in the field of sustainability, circular economy and life science”, she says.

The aim of the EU’s investment in food research is to develop healthy food products and more sustainable food production with stronger consumer influence, as well as to increase expertise within the food sector.

“Through our active work in EIT Food, a broad collaboration will be established with outstanding universities all over Europe on various teaching and research projects. Another item on the agenda is close cooperation with major companies within all parts of the food sector”, says Yvonne Granfeldt.

“Lund University has already been invited to take part in the new innovative study programmes at the Master’s and PhD levels, offering both broad perspectives on the food system and space to develop the entrepreneurship of the future within the food sector”, says Håkan Jönsson, associate professor in ethnology at Lund University, who was responsible for the educational issues during the work on the previous KIC application.

Read more about EIT Food in the EIT web page