Policy Brief
The agrifood sector is a cornerstone of national and global sustainability, integral to ensuring food security, public health, and economic resilience. With mounting challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and geopolitical disruptions, the sector must adopt innovative, sustainable, and collaborative approaches to ensure its future viability.
This policy brief underscores the significance of integrating the “One Health” approach—emphasizing the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health—into agrifood policies. By leveraging METROFOOD-RI’s advanced infrastructure and expertise, the sector can ensure sustainable practices, enhance food traceability and safety, and drive innovation.
METROFOOD-RI makes significant contributions to the agrifood sector by advancing food safety and traceability through the use of advanced metrological tools and methodologies. These innovations ensure robust traceability systems, reduce food fraud, and improve consumer trust. It also plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainability by supporting agroecological practices and circular economy principles, fostering eco-friendly production systems aligned with the European Green Deal. Through living labs and co-creation initiatives, METROFOOD-RI bridges the gap between research and market applications, empowering food businesses and SMEs to adopt transformative technologies.
Aligned with the priorities of the European Research Area (ERA), METROFOOD-RI fosters Open Science, accelerates digital and green transitions, and enhances research excellence. By providing a collaborative platform for stakeholders, it strengthens the agrifood sector’s capacity to address emerging challenges, ensuring its resilience and sustainability. This policy brief underscores the need for strategic investment in Research Infrastructures like METROFOOD-RI to secure a sustainable and innovative future for the agrifood sector. By embracing integrative and forward-looking strategies, Europe can solidify its position as a global leader in tackling the pressing challenges of this critical industry.
