On August 28, 2009, Prof. Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering seized the opportunity to visit the German Institute of Food Technologies. The recently retired President of the European Parliament appreciated the various activities of the Institute within the framework of the research sponsoring in the EU and the INTERREG program. The DIL-INTERREG initiative “FoodFuture” was last but not least made possible by Prof. Pöttering - at that time being the floor leader of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats (EVP-ED) in the European Parliament - who pleaded successfully for the continuation of the European structural aid along the German-Dutch border. FoodFuture is scheduled to begin in January 2010.

The FP7 Network of Excellence “Hightech Europe”, coordinated by DIL, has already started. This 4 year network project aims at improving the transfer of knowledge. According to Prof. Pöttering, it offers excellent opportunities to establish the DIL permanently within the group of leading European food research institutes. In this context he welcomed the opening of the DIL office in Brussels and he assured the DIL his full support for sustainable strengthening of this initiative.

Prof. Pöttering considered the cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences in Osnabrück within the scope of the study course “business administration and engineering in food production” to be a successful example for cooperation on regional level. He thanked Dr. Heinz and Prof. Figura (University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück), who was also present, for this initiative which will contribute significantly to an improved securing of junior staff in the food industry.

The practical work of the DIL was introduced on the example of biotechnology and process technology by Dr. Hertel and Dr. Knoch. In view of the ongoing construction work for the extension of the building, Prof. Pöttering was pleased with the future facilities. He wished the DIL all the best, in particular for its activities on European level.