Thoughts for food research

The recent scare in the UK surrounding contaminated chocolate is just one of a continuing series of examples of where the food industry needs good science. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has just set out its stall for science over the next few years on its Science Strategy 2005-2010.

 

The report describes the issues that will influence the agency's work over the period in question. These include many of the usual suspects: "advances in nanotechnologies, biotechnology and information technology; sustainability; changes in agricultural practices and food production; increasing globalisation and international trade; concerns around food security and terrorism, and developments in European and international research". 

 

"We will need to keep track of these issues," says the report "and the potential opportunities and threats they may present." One way in which the agency does that tracking is to commission research. "As a rule we will procure our research and surveys through open competition to inform our medium- and long-term policies, although research projects may be commissioned if this is necessary to allow us to respond to immediate emerging issues."

 

There are opportunities here for companies to bid for this work. "We publicise our calls for research proposals widely in the UK and abroad, including through channels that target small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in line with the objectives of the Small Business Research Initiative."

 

Probably by coincidence, the FSA has just put out its latest invitation to bid for work. The sort of work outlined in this Research Requirements Document include work on microbial risk assessment and on "chemical contaminants from food production," including work on arsenic and PCBs.

 

The food industry is one of the biggest around, with a growing demand for science. So there are plenty of openings for good research. It is just a matter of working out how to make the science profitable.