Skip to main content

THE PROJECT: BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion in 2050; meanwhile, the availability of natural resources is drastically decreasing, due to climate change and unsustainable food systems. This alarming data raises important and urgent questions: how can we feed a growing population with limited resources? How can we prevent an escalation of food insecurity, already affecting more that 800 million people worldwide?

Legislative actions and strategies have been developed, at different regulatory levels, proposing possible solutions towards more sustainable and efficient food systems, ensuring food safety and access to sufficient food for all. In this context, innovations at different stages of the food system, for example, planting, fertilization, processing, logistics, distribution, consumer behavior and practices, are crucially important in creating significant, long-lasting change.

Novel Foods (NFs) demonstrate how scientific and technological progress could positively impact consumers’ health and sustainability. However, new foods have had limited market penetration in the European Union (EU): the current regulation introduces improvements, but finding a balance between sustainability, innovation, food security, and consumer protection remains critical.

The aim of this research is to provide policy makers, regulators, food business operators and consumers with up-to-date and in-depth data that will become the bedrock of key studies, guidelines and directly influence policy. Therefore, the project, by promoting an interdisciplinary approach, will: 1) explore the link between innovation and sustainability; 2) examine the past and present Novel Foods Regulation, highlighting unsolved uncertainties and legal issues; 3) study the regulatory issues deriving from data protection and industrial property protection provisions; 4) deepen the Novel Foods discipline focusing on two different case-studies, also involving food scientists and bio-economists.

STATE OF THE ART

The UN has included food security in its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to promote sustainability in all its three dimensions, as outlined in the Brundtland Report (1987). Two particularly ambitious targets have been included: access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food for all (Target 2.1), and the need to eradicate all forms of malnutrition (Target 2.2).

The European Union (EU) has recognized the significant challenges facing the agri-food sector and has implemented relevant policies, such as the “Farm to Fork Strategy”, to address these issues. These policies adopt a holistic approach and are part of the broader framework of the “European Green Deal”. Furthermore, the EU has adopted the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2023-2027, with a specific focus on promoting a smart, resilient, and diversified agricultural sector to ensure food security. As stated in Recital 1 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, the EU is committed to ensuring the right to food and sustainable food systems. Innovation is seen as a useful solution to the remaining challenges, with technological and scientific progress being identified as tools to ensure efficiency and sustainability in food systems.

Looking at the paradigmatic example of Novel Foods, the approval of Reg. (EU) 2015/2283, entered into force the 1st January 2018, shows the difficult balance between innovation, food safety, sustainability, healthy nutrition and market needs. The critical and interdisciplinary analysis of the current legislative framework, alongside the need to promote efficient policies or regulatory instruments able to boost innovation and sustainability without compromising food safety, is of paramount importance.

Legislative actions and strategies have been developed, at different regulatory levels, proposing possible solutions towards more sustainable and efficient food systems, ensuring food safety and access to sufficient food for all. In this context, innovations at different stages of the food system, for example, planting, fertilization, processing, logistics, distribution, consumer behavior and practices, are crucially important in creating significant, long-lasting change.

Novel Foods (NFs) demonstrate how scientific and technological progress could positively impact consumers’ health and sustainability. However, new foods have had limited market penetration in the European Union (EU): the current regulation introduces improvements, but finding a balance between sustainability, innovation, food security, and consumer protection remains critical.

The aim of this research is to provide policy makers, regulators, food business operators and consumers with up-to-date and in-depth data that will become the bedrock of key studies, guidelines and directly influence policy. Therefore, the project, by promoting an interdisciplinary approach, will: 1) explore the link between innovation and sustainability; 2) examine the past and present Novel Foods Regulation, highlighting unsolved uncertainties and legal issues; 3) study the regulatory issues deriving from data protection and industrial property protection provisions; 4) deepen the Novel Foods discipline focusing on two different case-studies, also involving food scientists and bio-economists.

OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

OBJECTIVE 1: The Novel Foods discipline in the wider context: how innovation can contribute to sustainability and food security in the agri-food sector .

1.1) To investigate the necessary interactions between scientific innovation and legislative interventions. In order to do so, a clear understanding of what “sustainability” really means in the agri-food field results of pivotal importance. The exam of the European and Italian regulatory and legislative measures aimed at translating the definition of “sustainable development” into the specificities of food systems will help to determine the possible contribution technological and scientific progress could give. This analysis will also pay attention to the new and unprecedented food safety issues that new production scenarios can bring about;

1.2) To verify the possibility of introducing new products and procedures in the market by strategically directing public authorities’ demand for food products and services.

[RESEARCH ACTIVITY 1: Interactions between scientific innovation and legislative intervention in the implementation of the sustainable development principle in the agri-food sector]

A) Analyze the different strategies, policies and regulatory acts aimed at prompting sustainable food systems, adopted at the international, EU and national–or subnational–level;

       

B) Investigate how innovation has been identified as a useful instrument to foster sustainability;

  

C) Determine how the sustainable development principle has been considered and applied in the specific agri-food sector;

   

D) Elaborate guidelines and suggestions addressed to Legislators and policymakers on how to efficiently legislate topics characterized by a high degree of innovation and technicality, also taking into account the uncertainties related to the actual scientific knowledge;

E) Examine case-studies and elaborate creative models of innovative procurement.

 

OBJECTIVE 2: The legal, economic, and scientific issues specifically linked to the marketing of Novel Foods: the evolution of Novel Foods Regulation – Reg. (EU 2015/2283).

2.1) To provide an in-depth analysis of the issues arising from the Novel Foods Regulation: the identification of legal issues, but also economic and scientific difficulties that have emerged in relation to the newly established procedure is crucial in order to remove obstacles to innovation. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the questions and ambiguities related to the application of the current Novel Foods regulation will be identified;

2.2) To investigate the profound impact of the protection of scientific data on both consumer protection and the interests of food business operators, in order to identify not only the balance determined between the promotion of innovation and investment in new food products and consumer welfare, but also the impact of the confidentiality provisions on international trade rules and therefore on the importation or export of Novel Foods.

2.3) To examine the critical aspects related to the Novel Foods discipline through the analysis of two case-studies: edible insects & cultured meat. In particular, it is necessary to identify critical aspects, legislative loopholes and shortcomings by firstly detecting the difficulties and uncertainties related to the legislative provisions applicable to both production and marketing of edible insects and cultured meat. 

[RESEARCH ACTIVITY 2: The evolution of Novel Foods Regulation ]

A) Determine the exact scope of application of the Regulation, filling some existing gaps, clarifying how innovation and scientific progress are considered in this context;

        

B) Analyze the procedural aspects of the Regulation: role of different authorities, documents required (especially those food business operators are asked to present), relevant case-law. A comparative analysis will be proposed, examining different legislative solutions adopted by other Countries, supporting the evaluation of possible best practices;

C) Elaborate a report about the main legal issues identified;

        

D) Study the impacts on the economic and scientific field, posing specific attention on access to information and consumer information issues, presenting possible balanced solutions between protection of research investments, consumer welfare and fair international trade, taking into account the acquis Communautaire and international best practices;

E) Organize meetings involving food business operators;

   

F) Disseminate the results of the research both in the Master’s Programme held by Roma Tre University and on the Roma TrE-Press open access platform.

       

[RESEARCH ACTIVITY 3: Examination of specific case-studies, identified in insects-as-food and cultured meat ]

A) Investigate the production process and identification of critical points of attention in the study and development of Novel Foods with a strong biotechnological impact, focusing on safety, nutritional safety and product authentication;

B) Analyze the main legal issues related to the concrete – or potential, of the case of cultured meat – application of NFs Regulation to these specific cases and assess the impact of regulatory issues on the marketing of such products;

       

C) Organize meetings and round-tables with interested stakeholders;

       

D) Organize webinars on the selected case-studies;

       

E) Elaborate reports and briefing papers addressed to food business operators interested in the production of insects for human consumption or cultured meat, in order to provide clear and comprehensive information on the applicable laws and provisions as well as on economic and scientific studies strictly interconnected with the regulatory sphere.

       

CROSS CUTTING OBJECTIVES:

OBJECTIVE 3: Improve synergy between scientists and experts in the food-sector, legislators and policymakers, business operators, consumers, and civil society.

OBJECTIVE 4: Assist Regulators elaborating complex legislative frameworks and policies aimed at enhancing and promoting innovative and sustainable solutions to food insecurity, balancing the right to access to sufficient food and the right to health.

2.2) To investigate the profound impact of the protection of scientific data on both consumer protection and the interests of food business operators, in order to identify not only the balance determined between the promotion of innovation and investment in new food products and consumer welfare, but also the impact of the confidentiality provisions on international trade rules and therefore on the importation or export of Novel Foods.

2.3) To examine the critical aspects related to the Novel Foods discipline through the analysis of two case-studies: edible insects & cultured meat. In particular, it is necessary to identify critical aspects, legislative loopholes and shortcomings by firstly detecting the difficulties and uncertainties related to the legislative provisions applicable to both production and marketing of edible insects and cultured meat. 

DISSEMINATION STRATEGY:

1) Conferences

  1. a) 3 general interdisciplinary conferences;
  2. b) Conferences & webinars involving legal experts, scientists, stakeholders & public authorities;
  3. c) Specific lessons and didactic activities targeted at students;

2) Website

3) Publications

  1. a) Guidelines addressed to Legislators and policymakers, intended to identify suggestions and best practices on how to efficiently legislate topics characterized by a high degree of innovation and technical aspects;
  2. b) Creative models of innovative procurement;
  3. c) Report on the main legal issues related to the current EU NFs Regulation;
  4. d) Regulatory solutions to balance protection of research investments, consumer welfare and fair international trade, taking into account the acquis communautaire and international best practices;
  5. e) Reports and briefing papers addressed to FBOs interested in the production of insects for human consumption and of cultured meat;
  6. f) Briefing papers and informative papers dedicated to consumers;
  7. g) Papers;
  8. h) Book;
  9. i) Reports of the Units’ Activities.

4) Project management

  1. a) Creation of the Internal Management Group;
  2. b) Meetings of the single Unit;
  3. c) Intra-Units meetings;
  4. d) Interdisciplinary training meetings involving all components of the Research Units.