On 18^th April 2016, European researchers and industrial representatives from 28 countries kicked off a new European COST Action network in Brussels named EUROCAROTEN. Its goal is to enhance competitiveness of the European agro-food industry and promote health by coordinating research on carotenoids. Luxembourg is part of the Action with the involvement of Dr Torsten Bohn, principal investigator at the Epidemiology and Public Health Research Unit within LIH’s Department of Population Health.

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a pan-European intergovernmental framework. Its mission is to enable breakthrough scientific and technological developments leading to new concepts and products and thereby contribute to strengthening Europe’s research and innovation capacities.

Carotenoids are interesting compounds to study as they are versatile and can be used as natural colorants, antioxidants, sources of vitamin A and functional ingredients. Of the over 750 carotenoids only ten are being thoroughly studied. The COST Action EUROCAROTEN (CA15136) will therefore especially address novel sources of carotenoids and little studied carotenoids. It will also explore how beneficial actions of carotenoids can be harnessed to promote health and increase competitiveness of the European agro-food industry.

EUROCAROTEN will gather and articulate a critical mass of European actors to promote the cooperative use of infrastructures, synergistic interactions and the sharing, generation, application and communication of knowledge. As a result it may generate breakthroughs leading to applications such as new technologies and/or high-quality foods and the establishment of health-promoting nutritional recommendations. Thus, EUROCAROTEN shall contribute to create health, improve health and reduce costs related to serious diseases.

The COST Action is chaired by Professor Antonio J. Meléndez Martínez from the University of Sevilla, Spain. The main responsible partner in Luxembourg, Dr Torsten Bohn, is in charge of one of the working groups dedicated to carotenoids and health. In addition, his PhD candidate Joana Corte-Real is acting as a co-chair of the young researchers’ representatives of EUROCAROTEN.