From a joint European vision
to joint action...
WHAT IS SCAR?
The Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) is a comitology body of the European Commission (EC) originally established in the 1970s. Comitology refers to a set of procedures, including meetings of representative committees, that give European Union (EU) countries a say in the implementation of EU law.
SCAR’s remit lies in the area of agriculture, fisheries, food, forestry and the wider bioeconomy, with a focus on research and innovation (R&I). Its main task is to provide strategic R&I policy advice in this domain, helping to create an integrated European Research Area (ERA).
It is a key platform for creating Horizon Europe Partnerships, which address some of Europe’s most pressing challenges through concerted R&I initiatives.
How is SCAR organised, what are its goals and who are its members?
BECOME (MORE) ACTIVE INTERESTEDINSPIREDIN THE SCAR COMMUNITY!
BUILD THE FUTURE RESEARCH AGENDA
The SCAR Working Groups form an inspiring network of motivated peers. They offer unique platforms to develop R&I agendas, co-construct European R&I partnerships, and exchange experiences and best practices. Moreover, being a member of the SCAR helps delegates and scientists implement national research priorities at the European level, and helps align national and European R&I agendas.
ARE YOU...
…already a member of the SCAR community, and interested in helping it grow? Take up an active role in the Working Groups or Plenary Meeting, motivate your research community to join the SCAR Working Groups, and disseminate the results in your country to increase the SCAR’s impact.
…a scientist, eager to meet peers to exchange knowledge and learn from them? Contact your country’s SCAR delegate and request to join one of the Working Groups.
NEWS
🚀 Info Webinar – RefreSCAR Hackathon 2025
2 October 2025, 10:00 CET (online)
Ahead of the 1st RefreSCAR Hackathon “Protein Value Chains: Global Demand, Local Challenges” (20–21 November 2025, Vienna), we are hosting an Info Webinar to support potential applicants and all interested parties.
The webinar will provide insights into the hackathon’s goals, expectations, and application process, helping interested teams prepare their proposals. Participation is highly recommended for anyone considering applying...
SCAR FOOD SYSTEMS SWG WORKSHOP
30th September 2025, from 12:30 to 18:00 - The Hague, NL
«Socio-cultural and economic drivers and barriers of change for Sustainable Food Systems Transition»
The workshop on “Socio-cultural and economic drivers and barriers of change for Sustainable Food Systems Transition” will be organised as part of the SCAR FS SWG priority action on Accelerating and Monitoring FS transition.
It will provide a platform to reflect on a strategic policy shift towards a holistic and integrated framework that seeks to reconcile economic resilience, viability and competitiveness of the agricultural sector with a more systemic thinking, addressing barriers and drivers to change, the role of monitoring in enabling and accelerating FS transformation, the role of governance and the potential of True Cost Accounting (TCA)...
Second Annual Training webinar for new SCAR Working Group members
The 2nd annual Training webinar has been held on 8 July 2024. It followed the 1st webinar, held on 18 September 2024.
The webinar was followed by about 30 people, most of them “newcomers” to the SCAR world, from different countries and different SCAR groups, and offered insights into SCAR’s objectives and initiatives, including a presentation of the updated 2025 version of the 'Induction Package', a user-friendly guide to familiarize with the SCAR environment firstly issued in 2024. The webinar also provided an opportunity for new Groups’ members to connect with other newcomers and more experienced SCAR members...
#SCAR Food Systems Workshop on “Socio-cultural and economic drivers and barriers of change for Sustainable Food Systems Transition”, in The Hague, September 30. Great discussions on collaboration and governance towards sustainable, resilient, and healthy food systems in the #EU! pic.twitter.com/rupTIaMWC3
— RefreSCAR (@RefreSCAR_) October 3, 2025
AGENDA
Stay up to date
RefreSCAR Spotlight On Webinar n°5
“Land and Water – Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture”
📅 Date: Tuesday, 7 October 2025
🕐 Time: 13:00–14:00 CET
🔗 Register here
- Casper Zulim de Swarte, Senior Manager at the Policy Agriculture and Food for One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B) and the WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development
- Bernhard Schmid, Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of Zurich and Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Ecology, University of Beijing
Featured Events
Webinar "SCAR Insights Series"
The recording of the first SCAR Insights Series Webinar, under the title "SCAR Forest Coordinating Forest Innovation" is NOW AVAILABLE.
next events
| 20 Oct 2025 Agroecology SWG meeting |
| 13 Nov 2025 AKIS SWG meeting |
| 20 Nov 2025 RefreSCAR meeting |
| 27 Nov 2025 SCAR Plenary |
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