On 5 July 2021, the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices was officially launched by the European Commission, together with relevant stakeholders. The Code is part of the Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F) action plan and targets responsible food businesses and marketing practices.

The EU Code of Conduct consists of 7 aspirational objectives, aiming for more sustainable and healthy food choices:

• Healthy, balanced and sustainable diets for all European consumers, contributing to: reversing malnutrition and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and reducing environmental footprint of food consumption by 2030.
• Prevention and reduction of food loss and waste by supporting improved food management at household level (e.g., promoting more mindful buying) or minimising waste and reducing losses in operations and across the value chain.
• A climate neutral food chain in Europe by 2050 by reducing energy use and applying sustainable bioeconomy-based solutions while contributing to a circular economy.
• An optimised circular and resource-efficient food chain in Europe by improving resource efficiency within own operations (e.g., water management practices, waste water quality and water recovery and re-use) and enhancing the sustainability of food and drink packaging.
• Sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all by improving resilience and competitiveness (e.g., increasing research and innovation in food sustainability), supporting a skilled workforce, and providing safe and inclusive workplaces for all.
• Sustainable value creation in the European food supply chain through partnership by supporting improved resilience and competitiveness of the supply chain (e.g., engaging in joint pre-competitive research and innovation like co-innovation product/process/technology) and stimulating sustainable production.
• Sustainable sourcing in food supply chains by transforming commodity supply chain (e.g., encouraging the uptake of scientifically robust sustainability certification schemes for food) and improving social performance in food supply chains

Every company (regardless of size) involved in food activities or related to food processes can join the EU Code of Conduct. Stakeholders wishing to sign the Code are requested to commit to it over the long-term (at least until 2025) and to provide an annual report in April. Commitment information will be made available to the public and each stakeholder will present its progress at least once a year on a specific and dedicated platform.

In total, 65 signatories (26 food manufacturers, 14 food retailers, 1 from food service sector and 24 associations) attended the High-level stakeholder celebratory event marking the launch of the Code of Conduct in July.

“The EU Code of Conduct on responsible food business and marketing practices is a considerable step forward made by the agri-food ecosystem. Every voluntary commitment counts to achieve the sustainable transition of our food systems, while increasing their resilience. The Commission is committed to mobilising its support instruments, in particular for SMEs, the backbone of the agri-food ecosystem, as we are embarking on this ambitious journey.”

– Thierry Breton
Commissioner for the Internal Market
Source: https://bit.ly/3yocZAL

You can find more information about the EU Code of Conduct here.

As the EU is stepping into its new MFF term, the 2030 deadline is getting closer. With this in mind, the European Commission recently (mid-July) presented a myriad of new measures along with law revisions gathered under its newest Fit for 55 package. The initiative is expected to provide the EU with tools to meet the Green Deal’s objectives, comply with the European Climate Law and keep its Paris Agreement commitments.

The scheme’s “55” stands for the EU’s 55% reduction target for greenhouse gas emission to be met by 2030, which had been communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 2020 under Germany’s presidency.

The Fit for 55 Package will constitute a main priority on the Slovenian presidency agenda which will strive to foster flexibility for all EU countries to reach the initiative’s goals while meeting its deadlines.

Continuing its efforts on emission reduction since it was launched in 2005, the EU Emission Trading System is to be revised together with the Effort Sharing Regulation with lower carbon emission limits and higher annual reduction targets. The two policies will continue working hand in hand putting a price on the carbon tonne and respectively covering 40% (power sector, manufacturing industry) and 60% (transport, agriculture) of the total current greenhouse gases emissions.

Revisions on the strongly related Renewable Energy Directive and Energy Efficiency Directive are setting a 40% target for sustainably produced energy by 2030. Combined, the two legislations are expected to increase clean energy production while reducing our overall energy consumption (green or not).

Adjustments on the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive will back this effort with the implementation of more convenient refuelling and recharging devices for clean transports (e.g. hydrogen trucks) and electric cars. The Directive will be complemented by two newly introduced initiatives: ReFuelEU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime which will strive to boost the use of sustainable fuel alternatives and zero emissions technology in both transport sectors. Both programmes introduce gradually increasing percentages of green fuels within blending mandates (up to 60% of Sustainable Aviation Fuels-SAF by 2050) and incentives towards various cleaner alternatives.

Lastly, a new Social Climate Fund will support EU citizens with green transition-related costs. The expected €72.2 billion budget for the 2025-2032 period will endeavour to align the green transition process with NextGenEU and Resilience and Recovery Facility objectives.

A scheme that doesn’t fit all

Another main measure among the brand new ones is the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism which is to be implemented by 2023 and is meant to protect European firms from environmental dumping while preventing “carbon leakage”.

Further discussions on the upcoming COP26 in November are expected to clarify the situation.

Read more on the various Fit for 55 measures here.

Mid-July has seen the adoption of the European Research Centre 2022 work programme under Horizon Europe. Its €2.4 billion annual budget accounts for 15% of its €16 billion total 2021-2027 allocated funds. It represents a €0.5 billion increase compared to its 2021 budget and a €0.2 billion rise from its 2020 budget under Horizon 2020. Its overall HE budget is €3.5 billion higher than its H2020 budget, but its share has decreased as the programme’s overall budget has risen (18% for H2020, 17% of HE).

Besides ERC’s usual Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grants, the work programme will be bringing back the Synergy and Proof of Concept Grants which are not featured amongst its 2021 calls. The two latter calls will allow for intensified interdisciplinary research and expanded international cooperation.  Both Synergy and Proof of Concept calls will open on 15 July 2021 with respectively €300 million and €25 million budgets. A second Proof of Concept call is to be launched on 16 November 2021 and will be allocating the second half of its total €50 million dedicated fund.

In terms of priorities, ERC’s 2022 work programme will be fostering its biggest annual budget ever to generate the creation of  “Some 8,000 jobs for post-doctoral fellow, PhD students and other research staff [from across the EU and associated countries, regardless of their nationality] in ERC grantees’ teams.”

It will put emphasis on pressing societal matters with initiatives such as the enforcement of the Gender Equality Plan requirement, which applicants must have finalised by the time the grant agreement is to be signed and which covers the whole project duration.

Its Public Engagement with Research Award will also strive to deliver on Horizon Europe’s key focus on citizen’s involvement by incentivising the building of projects with a wider audience outreach.

Find out more about the ERC 2022 work programme and its calls calendar here.

Celebrating (a part of) the History of Chemistry in Almadén, Spain

On 14 – 15 September, the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ) is organising the ceremony for the unveiling of the EuChemS Historical Landmark plaque for the Almadén mines, which has been awarded at the European level for its 2019 edition EuChemS Historical Landmarks Award (European level) in recognition of the role it played in the history of chemistry and the European sense of belonging between people and ideas.

This ceremony will be preceded by a symposium on the history of the mines and the mercury element – the greatest volume of mercury production in history has been achieved in these mines.

You can read more about the upcoming celebration here (in the Spanish language).

Follow EuChemS on social networks to not miss out on the ceremony!

2021 EuChemS Awards calls for nominations

Four (4) calls for nominations will open in September 2021:

• EuChemS Lecture Award
• EuChemS Award for Service
• EuChemS Historical Landmarks Award
• Members of the International Award Committee for European Chemistry Gold Medal (IACM)

EuChemS at #WiFo2021

From 29 August to 1 September, EuChemS will join the next GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (WiFo) as a classic partner. For 4 days, registrants will be able to interact with the EuChemS team through its interactive virtual booth.

This year’s event will be held online. You can discover more about it and register here.

2021 DAC-EuChemS Lectures Awardees Webinar

The EuChemS Division of Analytical Chemistry (DAC) is organising the ‘2021 DAC-EuChemS Lectures Awardees’ webinar which will be held on Thursday 16 September 2021, from 11:00 to 13:30 CEST.

You can click here to discover more about the programme for this online event.