EHEDG

Citation

(2008), "EHEDG", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 38 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2008.01738bac.003

EHEDG

Article Type: Conference reports From: Nutrition

The EHEDG is a consortium of equipment manufacturers, food industries, research institutes and public health authorities, founded in 1989 with the aim to promote hygiene during the processing and packaging of food products. Meanwhile the EHEDG has published more than 35 guidelines on hygienic design of food factories and equipment, produced by employees of its many member organisations from all over Europe. EHEDG works also closely together with the 3-A Standards organisation in the USA. Food processing equipment, complying with EHEDG's hygienic design criteria may be tested and certified by EHEGE. The organisation has regional sections in many countries. For more information, see www.ehedg.org

The Conference

The programme included numerous oral presentations and topics such as:

• •

  adhesion the enemy of cleaning;

• •

  novel cleaning options;

• •

  improving efficiency;

• •

  nanotechnology food and cleaning applications;

• •

  tailor-made waters for the food industry;

• •

  assessing the quality of fresh fruit produce;

• •

  verification and certification of equipment EHEDG certification procedure and types;

• •

  allergens processing and hygiene;

• •

  preservation with natural extracts;

• •

  determination of food quality;

• •

  texturising food;

• •

  improvement of the yield of extraction by application of electric field pulses;

• •

  drying and meat products quality;

• •

  waste reduction; and

• •

  education in food engineering, science and technology.

The event concluded with ETP food for Life implementation update. This covered the priorities for future research in the food industry and included innovation, leading to new products and production processes. It is an important determinant of productivity improvement, economic growth and an answer to consumer's demands. The EU food and drink industry's future lies in the production of value-added and quality goods using its technical expertise, developing its capacity for innovation and promoting its deeply rooted food traditions.

Under the auspices of CIAA, the representative organisation of the European food and drink industry the European Technology Platform on Food for Life was launched in July 2005.

This platform is a structure that brings the stakeholders of the food and drink sector together with a common vision and objective: to enhance the impact of EU R&D development, foster competitiveness and deliver tangible benefits to the European consumers. The scope of the activities of the platform has been described in a "Vision document" leading to a strategic Research Agenda and implementation plan. This will set the path till 2020. The implementation plan, which the ETP is currently working on, will be the priority thematic areas thereby considering:

• •

  the key priorities based on largest impact on contribution to competitiveness of the industry and the stakeholders of the ETP;

• •

  the questions whether Europe is at the leading edge in the technology thereby reflecting whether there are already strong markets or whether they are likely to be developed;

• •

  the main activities that must be addressed;

• •

  the reasons to do the research funded at European level; and

• •

  links to national resources, but with a need for strong coordination.

The implementation plan will focus on a plan for the European agro-food sector until 2010 and outline the implementation plans for the period 2010-2020, based on long-term SRA.

This ETP implementation update will also raise questions such as:

• •

  stimulation of formation of ERA nets;

• •

  development of potential lead markets;

• •

  stimulation of specific Eureka themes;

• •

  stimulating the creation of publicprivate partnerships with strategic programme and project definition and execution; and

• •

  identifying other "funding opportunities".

Throughout the conference there were poster presentations including ones from students. Their next conference is to be held in Ljublana, Slovenia in 2008.