PROTECT Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action Innovative Training Network (ITN) Officially Launches
PROTECT is a €2.1 million Marie Sklodowska –Curie Action Innovative Training Network (ITN) funded through the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme which is led by Assoc. Professor Enda Cummins from the School of Biosystems and Food Engineering at University College Dublin. The aim of the PROTECT Training Network is to train highly-skilled researchers on a range of predictive modelling tools to evaluate the effects of climate change on food safety.
The consortium consists of 15 partners from 11 European countries comprising 8 academic partners, 6 industry partners (Danone, Nestlé, Clun, Nizo, Creme Global and ARLA foods) and the United Nations FAO.
“This project promises to be very relevant for the future of European food security and the sustainability of the Agri-food sector” said Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, in a video address at the launch of the training network and inaugural meeting of the PROTECT consortium at UCD (23-24 May 2019).
Growth in the world population coupled with significant uncertainty about the effects of climate change on food safety continues to put upward pressure on already vulnerable food supplies.
Factors such as temperature increase, variation in precipitation, and consequently production practices, will result in increased vulnerability in Europe to established foodborne hazards while also potentially resulting in a microbial evolution stress response and new pathogen emergence.
Commissioner Hogan adds “The awarding of over €2.1 million euro in H020 funding is evidence of the potential that we see in the European Commission in your project”…… “It is Evidence of UCDs standing as a global leader in research in this field”…… “PROTECT is a wonderful example of a pioneering approach to research and training”
The PROTECT Training Network will provide sound scientifically based knowledge for management options and decisions on new and emerging food safety threats due to climate change. Tools will focus on the change in chemical levels and microbial populations in relation to the food industry and assess how levels will change under climate change pressures. The skills and knowledge gained through the network will be a critically important step towards better management of future food supplies.
Pictured at the Launch of PROTECT at UCD were: Professor Colm O’Donnell (UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering) Assoc. Professor Enda Cummins (PROTECT coordinator, UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering), Professor Dolores O'Riordan (Director, UCD Institute of Food & Health, Vice-President For Global Engagement), Dr Wayne Anderson (Director, Food Science & Standards, Food Safety Authority of Ireland)