Since its start in 2005, EuroFIR has been very successful and has made important steps towards the goal of providing the first comprehensive pan-European food information resource.

Key results of the EuroFIR project

The key results and successes of the Network so far are outlined on this page. More detailed information regarding these highlights can be found the documents available for download below.

• Forging links between the food industry, researchers, regulators and food composition data compilers – The EuroFIR network has proven successful in forging links between the food industry industry, researchers, regulators and food composition data compilers.

• Playing a leading role in establishing global harmonisation initiatives – EuroFIR has established strong strategic links to EFSA, DG SANCO, CIAA, and various international bodies, such as INFOODS (especially Latinfoods and Afrofoods), USDA and FDA, in order to harmonise food description and quality.

• Developing the EuroFIR Technical Website – The EuroFIR Technical Website has been launched with technical information on food composition and links to online databases.
  
  
  For more information click on image.

• Making reports on important features of EuroFIR available (e.g. Bioactive, ChEBI^[1] and CiteXplore^[2] databases) – Current reports include:
  • EuroFIR Standard Description & Technical Annex
  • EuroFIR Databank System Specifications
  • EuroFIR XML Food Transport Package Specifications
  • Bibliographic database activities including news links to CiteXplore records

• Launching fourteen on-line national food databases by the end of 2007 – This allows better accessibility to food composition data for key stakeholders, including researchers, food industry and regulators. A further 4 on-line databases are under development.

• Development of the EuroFIR e-BASIS Bioactive database – To provide a web-based integrated database on critically assessed bioactive compounds in plants. This includes extending the database by the end of 2007 to include around 7000 compositional entries, representing 99 of EuroFIR’s 108 prioritised plants. Data from processed foods (ca. 1200 entries) have been included, as well as non-processed plant foods. Data on the biological effects of bioactive compounds have been identified and critically evaluated, covering 139 different compounds and 65 different food plants.

• Developing quality systems – To deliver validated food composition data to users. A major activity has been the identification of each step of the compilation process, its hazards and critical points, resulting in the preparation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This is a first for the food composition community.

• Developing a Food Product Indexer – This food classification and description software is based on LanguaL (Langua Alimentaria) and has been developed to assist compilers in indexing the foods in their databases. More than 27,000 foods had been indexed by the end of 2007, and the Food Product Indexer is being translated into German, Italian, and Spanish, in addition to the English, Danish and French versions already available. Food indexing makes linking of different food composition databases and datasets possible.   

• Welcoming new EuroFIR Partners – In 2006 EuroFIR extended its network with four new national compilers from Latvia, Switzerland, Lithuania, and Serbia; a fifth national compiler from the Netherlands became a further partner in 2007.

• Signing Memorandum of Understandings with national compilers – In 2007, EuroFIR signed Memorandum of Understandings with the national compilers from Hungary and Czech Republic and,  in 2008 with Croatia, Slovenia, Estonia, Argentina (on behalf of LATINFOODS), and Thailand (on behalf of ASEANFOODS). The main purpose of these Memorandums of Understandings is to formalise the commitment from these countries to develop their national FCDBs linked to the EuroFIR platform. 

• Providing training in the production, evaluation, management and use of food composition data – Training has been offered to EuroFIR members and other interested stakeholders and students, covering all aspects of food composition data, including: data production; evaluation; compilation; storage; data base management; retrieval and data use.

• Optimising EuroFIR’s use of its User and Advisory Group – EuroFIR’s User and Advisory Group, a group of external experts and user representatives, has advised EuroFIR on its work programme, results obtained and future activities.

• Extending communication efforts – including a variety of web-based information, newsletters, one-pagers, synthesis reports and talks, presentations and exhibition stands at both national and international conferences and workshops.

• Holding two International EuroFIR Congresses – Congresses in London and Granada provided a unique opportunity to publicise EuroFIR to a wide audience including key stakeholders such as EFSA, DG SANCO, food industry and CIAA. EuroFIR has also used other opportunities such as international conferences to spread excellence. A third international EuroFIR congress will be held 8-10 September 2009 in Vienna.

• Publishing articles in peer reviewed journals

• Establishing sustainability and durability plans – Extensive consultations on the new legal entity have taken place and potential legal structures, operation models and organisational structures have been identified, evaluated and contrasted, with regard to their suitability for EuroFIR’s needs. A not-for-profit ‘AISBL’ (Association International Sans But Lucratif) legal structure has been selected. For more information contact ifr.eurofir@bbsrc.ac.uk