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) ACTIVEINTERESTEDINSPIREDIN 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
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 barriers continue to limit the translation of innovation into scalable market deployment.
To address this, the Task Force puts forward six strategic recommendations, with a focus on...
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 would like to thank all their members and contacts that contributed to this report by sharing their information, thus contributing to one of their main objectives.
Two new documents on the topic of regulatory science for animal welfare
The SCAR Animal Health and Welfare Working Group (AH&W-WG) is pleased to announce the publication of two new documents:
📘 R&I Analysis Report 'The Science-Policy Interface on Farm Animal Welfare in the EU: Regulatory Science for Animal Welfare'
The report examines how the EU science-policy interface on farm animal welfare currently operates and how it can be strengthened...
📄 Practice Brief - Regulatory Science for Animal Welfare
This practice brief provides concise, actionable recommendations for researchers, policymakers...
🚀 The SCAR Startup & Scaleup Task Force has a new homepage!
— RefreSCAR (@RefreSCAR_) April 16, 2026
Bridging the gap between R&I and market deployment in agri-food, forestry & rural areas 🌱
Discover the Task Force's aims, approach and Co-chairs here🔗 https://t.co/AGtmTdj0ol pic.twitter.com/hsB8tYfm5n
AGENDA
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Featured Events
The third edition of the SCAR Insights webinar series, as part of the RefreSCAR project, took place on July 9th at 2 PM (CEST). Representatives from the SCAR Protein Task Force shared important information on protein production and consumption in Europe, EU-funded research on alternative proteins, and the main challenges and opportunities identified throughout the Task Force's work.
PROGRAM:
Pablo Gómez Grande - SCAR Protein Task Force Scope and Context of protein production and consumption in Europe
Geert van Royen - Portfolio analysis of EU projects funded on alternative proteins: gaps, challenges and needs
Adeline Boire - Challenges and opportunities identified through the Protein Task Force's work
next events
| 29 Sep 2026 Workshop on ruminants and greenhouse gases |
SCAR Newsletter
June 2026
