Members of the programme group are very active in providing support to the government to enable evidence-based decisions. For example, I. Pravst and U. Blaznik have been a member of the National Board for Food Safety since 2013 and C. Hlastan Ribič is a coordinator of the work of the national inter-ministerial working group for implementing the objectives of the national salt reduction action plan. Members of research groups collaborated with Ministry of health in preparation of: (1) National resolution on nutrition and physical activity for health 2015–2025, which includes the participation of the state via professional public health institutions, the food industry and catering facilities and consumer awareness of the problems related with foods and nutrition. (2) Regulatory limit of marketing of energy-dense foods to children in year 2017 (3) Regulatory limit of trans fatty acids in foods in year 2018
F.24 Improvements to existing system-wide, normative and programme solutions, and methods
COBISS.SI-ID: 252041472Members of the programme group include teachers with academic habilitations, which actively collaborate as mentors and in the flow of young researchers (also as part of SRA funding), and collaborate as hosting researchers/invited lecturers. Current young researchers, financed by SRA: 36048 Lavriša Živa 39242 Zupanič Nina In the COBISS bibliography for the last 5 years there is proven (co)mentorship in 19 completed PhD theses and numberous MSc and BSc BSc/MSc graduation theses. Project group members are active internationally in both research projects and as invited lecturers at foreign universities and scientific conferences.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 4791672Members of research programme are active in professional polemics and discussions, related to their work (i.e. collaboration in critical discussions about nutrition and food policy decisions), some of those are also published in most prestigious scientific journals. Project team is also active in promoting of science and its research area in the general public, and collaborates with media.
F.18 Transfer of new know-how to direct users (seminars, fora, conferences)
COBISS.SI-ID: 37286661Proven relations with businesses or publicly-provided services and co-authorship of new products/technologies/innovations; Inclusion of corporate researchers/experts. Members of programme group are supporting the industry in development of healthier foods. For example, leader of the proposed project also lead scientific substantiation of the health claim for barley beta-glucans was performed and sent for evaluation to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). EFSA issued an opinion confirming a cause-and-effect relationship between the consumption of barley beta-glucans and lowering of blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Following this evaluation, the European Commission approved a new disease risk reduction health claim which can now be used in all of the European Union. This opened the possibility for an innovation in the production of functional foods and significantly contributed to the sales/exports and expansion of the company. Also, the new health claim will enable the efficient communication of health effects to consumers and therefore support their purchasing decisions, and public health. This was also well documented in world and domestic public media, including national TV and major newspapers.
F.06 Development of a new product
COBISS.SI-ID: 35151109Member of the programme group have been leaders of research organisations and research centres of national importance. For example: I. Eržen: Director of National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana I. Pravst: Director of Nutrition Institute, Ljubljana
D.07 Presiding over a centre/laboratory