INITIATIVES

European Transparency Platform

Organization and maintenance of the European Transparency Platform. The internet platform integrates various European projects and initiatives dealing with transparency in food chains, www.transfood.eu

European Technology Platform (ETP) ‘Food4Life’

Prof. Schiefer is co-founder of the ETP and was chairman of its working group on ‘Food Chain Management’, http://etp.ciaa.be/asp/index.asp

INFITA International Network on IT in Agriculture

Coordination of an international network of associations focusing on the utilization of IT in agriculture, the food industry, and the environment. The network includes the associations EFITA, AFITA, PanAFITA, CIGR, IAALD, FAO, ANITA (in foundation), www.infita.org

SALSAPLATFORM and QUALINT

The Qualint database is an experimental database that includes the most common quality management systems with their specifications. Features allow the comparison of systems (benchmarking) and the identification of enterprise system deficiencies if additional quality systems need to be implemented on top of already active systems. It is accessible through the salsaplatform internet address developed within the European project SALSA, www.salsaplatform.eu