SCAR NEWS
The Animal Health & Welfare Working Group have just published their new report titled on 'Risk Communication in Animal Health and Welfare'. This report was funded by RefreSCAR and led by Satu Raussi and Tiina Kauppinen from Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus.
The main objective of this study was to develop actionable recommendations for enhancing risk communication strategies within the context of animal health and welfare.
The report includes three separate analyses of gaps and existing knowledge of current research. Additionally it includes a comprehensive insight on strategic research needs in risk communication in animal welfare issues. Research needs are discussed in terms of source of the communication...
The SCAR Startup and Scaleup Task Force, established at the request of the European Commission, has just published its final report on how Research and Innovation can better support startups, scaleups and innovation-driven businesses across agriculture, forestry, rural areas and food systems.
The report draws on evidence from 49 case studies across EU Member States and identifies a clear message: Europe has a strong R&I base and significant entrepreneurial potential, but persistent...
The SCAR Animal Health and Welfare Working Group (AH&W-WG) is pleased to share the publication of its latest report: "Country consultation on AH&W priorities and challenges".
This report presents SCAR AH&W member survey results regarding country-level research priorities and challenges in the field of animal health and welfare, thus contributing to research and innovation policy-making, research coordination and a common strategic research agenda.
The SCAR AH&W-WG...
The SCAR Animal Health and Welfare Working Group (AH&W-WG) is pleased to announce the publication of two new documents on the topic of regulatory science for animal welfare.
R&I Analysis Report 'The Science-Policy Interface on Farm Animal Welfare in the EU: Regulatory Science for Animal Welfare'
This study was in collaboration with RefreSCAR and carried out by Ciska De Ruyver and Frank Tuyttens from the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Belgium. The report examines...
The 3rd annual Training webinar for new SCAR Working Groups and Task Forces members has been held on 8 June 2026, following the two previous similar events, held on 8 July 2025 and on 18 September 2024 respectively.
The webinar was followed by nearly 40 people from a wide range of countries, with participation of experts who recently joined the SCAR groups, together with more experienced members and experts who also joined the event. SCAR’s objectives and structure were...
New report: “An Assessment Framework for Food Systems Sustainable Transitions and Transformations” by Christophe Béné.
The study proposes a holistic governance framework to help countries assess and accelerate sustainable food-system change. It identifies 17 guiding principles covering leadership, coordination, accountability, learning, innovation, and societal values, and offers a practical tool to evaluate policies across agenda setting, design, and implementation.
The report highlights...
On 29 May 2026, experts from research, policy and practice gathered for the 7th RefreSCAR “Spotlight On” webinar titled “Healthy Soils for Europe: Research, Policy and Living Lab Innovations for Sustainable Land Management”.
The webinar addressed the growing challenges of soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate pressures, highlighting the critical role of healthy soils in supporting resilient ecosystems, sustainable food systems, and climate action across Europe. Discussants explored...
In February, the European Commission hosted an on-line workshop to discuss R&I strategic approaches related to the agri-food system.
The workshop had over 70 participants of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR), including SCAR delegates, SCAR working group chairs and co-chairs, and the European Commission.
A summary of the workshop has now been published and can be viewed here.
📣 The fourth and the final SCAR-Engage Call for Expression of Interest is now open!
We are pleased to announce that the fourth round of the SCAR-Engage Programme is officially underway. It aims to support new members in the SCAR Working Groups/Task Force (WGs/TF) and to strengthen national visibility across the European R&I landscape. The purpose is simple: to help new members - particularly from countries that are less represented - gain the knowledge, support, and connections they need to...