1. RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOR THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SECTOR
Opening Simona Caselli Minister for Agriculture, Hunting and Fishing of Emilia- Romagna Region and President of AREFLH

2. The Fruit and Vegetable sector in the EU: a statistical overview
The fruit and vegetable sector in Europe accounts for 21 % of the total value of agricultural production
Takes up 3 % of arable land and is worth more than EUR 50 billion
Represents ca. 30% of agricultural employment while receiving only around 3.5% of the CAP expenditure.
F&V total supply chain has an estimated value of more than EUR 150 billion, with approximately up to employees and acts as an economic multiplier at European level, stimulating both demand and the creation of added value in other economic sectors.
F&V sector has a great societal impact on labour, food
environment, sustainability and health.

3. The Fruit and Vegetable sector in the EU: several challenges
EU’s fruit and vegetable sector faces several global challenges such as:
need for higher competitiveness
sustainability and resilience
climate change
fruit and vegetables value
human health and well-being
food safety and security
Therefore, appropriate identification of innovation and research needs and priorities of the sector should lead to research programs that can efficiently tackle these challenges.

4. The Taskforce’s Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA) for F&V
The Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA) was born to identify the main challenges facing the fruit and vegetable industry in Europe and propose a list of priorities for public and private research investment in the coming period up to 2020 and beyond.
The document has been elaborated in a joint effort between the members of the Taskforce on R&I (AREFLH, FRESHFEL, EUFRIN and EUVRIN), which represent both the fruit and vegetable chain stakeholders and the fruit and vegetable innovation and research community.
The SIRA was first published and handed over to the Commission services in Upon receiving positive feedback from the EC, the Task Force members have proceeded to update it in February

5. Conference objectives
Find out more about the European institution’s research priorities for F&V
Define the opportunities and challenges for the fruit and vegetable sector in the current Horizon programme
Showcase successful F&V projects across Europe
Discuss future fruit and vegetable related research and FP9
Set the scene for a future update of the priorities and expectations of the F&V sector in an updated version of the SIRA

6. Thank you for your attention!