METROFOOD-RI is a European research infrastructure that aims to integrate the principles of metrology (the science of measurement) in food analysis at a pan-European level. It is part of the Roadmap 2018 of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures ( ESFRI).

The underlying European consortium consists of 48 institutions from 18 countries from the fields of food analysis, food technology, agriculture, information technology and risk assessment, and is coordinated by Dr Claudi Zoani from the Italian partner ENEA (Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo economico sostenibile; ENEA, National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Development). Germany is represented in this consortium by the TUM Chair of Analytical Food Chemistry.

Following a successful feasibility study (Early Phase, 2017), METROFOOD-RI entered the Preparatory Phase on 1 December 2019. This phase will last until 2021 and will make preparations to make METROFOOD-RI fully operational by 2024 after the final implementation phase. The research infrastructure will then offer procedures for method standardisation, the production of reference materials, laboratory comparison studies, data management and processing for authorities and private customers as a service. The EU estimates that the infrastructure will last for two decades.

The primary goal of METROFOOD-RI is to improve food quality and safety through metrology in the food and nutrition sector in the long term and to promote Europe-wide co-operation, consolidation and increasingly global networking. METROFOOD-RI will offer high quality food and nutrition metrology services covering a cross-section of highly interdisciplinary and interconnected areas along the entire food value chain, including agri-food, sustainable development, food safety, quality, traceability and authenticity, environmental safety and human health.

The future scientific offering of METROFOOD-RI will address a broad group of users and stakeholders, including:

• Public and private laboratories and groups involved in food data collection and measurement reliability research activities and basic food and nutrition research;
• Food business operators and producer organisations;
• policy makers, food inspection and control authorities;
• consumers/consumer organisations and citizens.

In addition to improving scientific cooperation and promoting interaction between the various players in the food sector, another key aspect of METROFOOD-RI is the development of a shared data, information and knowledge base. The provision of data, information and metrological tools is intended on the one hand to improve the quality and reliability of measurement results in the field of metrology, and on the other hand to promote the interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge. In addition to the FAIR principles(Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable) in the area of data management, the principles for Responsible Research Innovation ( RRI) will also be applied within the framework of METROFOOD-RI.

As part of the METROFOOD-RI project, the TUM Chair of Analytical Food Chemistry is responsible for the following project sub-areas:

• Work package 4: Policy development and statute development:Task T4.6: Development of an evaluation strategy for the scientific achievements of METROFOOD-RI
• Work package10: Research and innovation agenda: TaskT10.2: Conceptualisation of a strategic research and innovation agenda
• Work package 11: Positioning in the research ecosystem: TaskT11.4: Globalisation - building collaborative relationships with national and international organisations
• Work package 12: Socio-economic benefits: Task T12.3: Measuring and communicating impact to stakeholders