Cross-Border Collaboration Boosts Agri-Food Innovation
Brussels, Wednesday, 18 June 2025.
Recent discussions emphasized cross-border strategies in the agri-food sector, highlighting Flanders’ FOOD’s key role in connecting regions and enhancing innovation to address global challenges.
Flanders’ FOOD Spearheading Innovation
Flanders’ FOOD, based in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Brussels Region, serves as an innovation platform that brings together the industry, research institutes, and government agencies to foster technological advancements in the Flemish food sector [2]. This nonprofit organization plays a pivotal role in facilitating interregional collaboration, which is crucial in stimulating innovation across borders [1]. The platform aims to enhance the competitiveness of the food sector by driving scientific and technological innovations, with about 200 industrial partners and 30 research groups backing its initiatives [2].
Highlighting Strategic Dialogues
On 23 June 2025, an important interactive online session organized by the HIGHFIVE project will take place to discuss innovation policies in the agri-food sector [1]. This session will highlight good practices and provide policy recommendations to bolster collaboration and innovation strategies [1]. Stakeholders from various clusters, including policymakers and intermediary organizations, are expected to exchange ideas on strengthening cross-border industry and innovation policies [1].
The Role of Sustainable Practices
Sustainability is at the core of these innovations, as emphasized by recent projects facilitated by the European Union. For instance, KOASTAL, a Swedish start-up, is exploring large-scale sustainable sugar kelp cultivation backed by EU support [3]. This initiative, which operates on the west coast of Sweden, aims to create a franchise model assisting small-scale players, including fishers, thus addressing both environmental concerns and economic viability in the aquaculture sector [3].
Future Prospects and Initiatives
Looking forward, Flanders’ FOOD continues to engage in significant projects like the HIGHFIVE initiative, which will culminate in a closing event in September 2025, focusing on digital and green technologies in the food industry [2]. Additionally, a new research call announced by Biodiversa+, slated for 9 September 2025, will focus on ecosystem restoration, enhancing the synergy between environmental sustainability and innovative research [6]. These efforts underscore the importance of integrative and collaborative approaches to address global agri-food challenges effectively.