Scientific advice
DTU gives high priority to its international activities and currently provides extensive international scientific advice and sector development services. In addition to participating in a range of research partnerships and researcher-exchange programmes, DTU supplies scientific advice to a wide range of international organizations.
These include the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Reference projects include DTU’s extensive activities in EFSA, where DTU staff participates in a wide range of scientific committees, academic panels and working groups—in the fields of animal welfare and chemical/microbiological food safety, for example.In addition, DTU is a key player in supplementary education, training and competency development in food safety and hygienic design. These activities are carried out under the auspices of authorities including the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the EU.
In a range of areas, DTU also handles Denmark’s monitoring and data collection obligations in relation to international treaties. This applies, for example, in the field of fishery, where DTU’s ongoing population measurements are incorporated into the preparation of the pan-European fishery policy.
The same applies to the radiation monitoring activities for radioactivity that DTU performs on behalf of the Danish Health and Medicines Authority. The results of this monitoring work are reported annually to the EU Commission.
For the past 20 years, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has maintained its UNEP Centre at DTU. The DTU UNEP Centre handles scientific advice assignments that primarily centre on developing countries.