Working Groups

 

Work group
Feasibility and Traceability

  • Links with stakeholders in the provision of baseline system solutions, especially solutions for tracking and tracing with potential extension to transparency information
  • Involves system providers, the providers of technical, organizational and communicational standards (GS1, agroXML etc.), and EU projects related to tracking and tracing
  • Identifies potential, pre-conditions, barriers, and agreement requirements for an open European Transparency Backbone system

Headed by Dr. M. Kunisch of KTBL, Germany

 

Work group
Quality and Safety

  • Specification of information and information layers with relevance for food safety and quality (across the various stages of the chain and the various product lines)
  • Identification of research needs and priorities

Headed by Prof. Dr. D. Knorr, Technical University Berlin, Germany and
Dr. H. Hofstra, SAFE consortium, Belgium

 

Work group
Integrity and Sustainability

  • Specification of information and information layers with relevance for environmental, ethical or social concerns (across the various stages of the chain and the various product lines)
  • Identification of research needs and priorities

Headed by Dr. U. Sonesson and Dr. K. Ostergren of the Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology (SIK), Sweden

Supported by Dr. D. Barling, City University London, UK (ethical issues), Profs. J.E. Hermansen & N. Halberg, University of Aarhus, Denmark (environmental issues)

 

Work group
Signals for Transparency and Trust

  • Analysis and development of signals and their information base for transparency and trust, considering different product lines and the diversity in expectations and cultural background
  • Involves consumers, industry, and policy
  • Focuses on food quality, food safety, chain integrity
  • Two subgroups: Consumers needs & Policy needs

Headed by Dr. D. Barling, City University London, UK
Supported (co-coordinator) by Prof. Dr. G. Chryssochoidis, Athens, Greece

 

Work group
Best Practice and Performance

Analysis, documentation and evaluation of best practice solutions implemented in enterprises with certain quality visibility

  • implemented in chains (e.g. local quality groups, organic groups etc.),
  • offered by European system providers (based on a previous comprehensive analysis of the market)

Headed by Prof. Dr. X. Gellynck, University of Ghent, Belgium
Supported (co-coordinator) by Dr. A. Sebok, Campden & Chorleywood, Hungary, who provides the link with stakeholder platforms

 

Work group for
Integration and Coordination

  • Comprehensive and integrated documentation of the present situation and knowledge related to transparency
  • Formulation of a strategic research agenda for the elimination of knowledge barriers
  • Essential elements:
    - European Platform Transparent Food
    - Web consultations, crucial to reach broad acceptance of results

Headed by Prof. Dr. G. Schiefer, University of Bonn, Germany and its International Center for Food Chain and Network Research
Supported by PD Dr. M. Fritz, University of Bonn, Germany