Spurring application of food safety biotechnology
The critical link between researchers and biotech companies working in the field of food quality and safety has not yet been well established and thus has impeded the rapid transfer of knowledge from laboratory to market. European researchers developed the Bioproducts 4 FOOD project to facilitate the commercial exploitation of European advances in plant and microbial biotechnology. To this end, Bioproducts 4 FOOD held annual conferences (the Rothamsted International Biomarket) that became important events for scientists, companies, financiers and service providers in the field of biotechnology for foods. The three-day events included poster presentations and talks as well as opportunities for one-to-one networking with potential partners. In addition, the Bioproducts 4 FOOD website with its database of over 350 organisations from 50 countries provided a year-round networking forum for those seeking to translate research results into marketable products and processes. Overall, Bioproducts 4 FOOD disseminated European food-related biotechnology results to entrepreneurial business executives in EU Member States, Candidate Countries, developing countries and others. Expanded participation in the project forums has the potential to significantly enhance the use of biotechnology to improve food quality and safety with important benefits for the global economy and the public.