Framework agreement with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries

DTU has entered into a strategic framework agreement with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark on the provision of impartial and well-documented decision-making support to the ministries. The framework agreement lays down the overall strategic and organizational conditions for the collaboration between DTU and the ministries. The agreement is a four-year rolling contract that is renegotiated annually so that the content and duration of the assignments are continuously adapted to the current needs of the ministries.

As appendices to the framework agreement, there are so-called performance agreements (collaboration agreements at department and agency level) as well as accompanying work programmes describing the specific scientific advisory services that DTU provides to the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark.

DTU provides independent scientific advice to the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark in the following areas:

Chemistry and food products:

• Chemical food safety
• Chemical product safety and GMOs
• Microbiological food safety
• Nutrition

Fisheries and aquaculture:

• Commercial fisheries
• Aquaculture
• Recreational fishing
• Climate adaptation and environmental effects

Environmental and life cycle assessments

• Environmental and life cycle assessments in waste management
• Drinking water, wastewater, and climate adaptation

In the chemical and food science and technology fields, DTU advises on chemicals, genetic engineering, chemical and microbiological food safety, as well as on food quality. DTU also advises on the scientific basis for the official dietary advice, on the importance of diet to health, and on the Danes’ food consumption in general.

In the field of fishery and aquaculture, DTU advises on sustainable maximization of the yield from commercial fishery and safeguarding the profession, recreational fishing and utilization of the socio-economic potential, as well as climate adaptation solutions and environmental impact.

In the field of waste management, DTU advises on life cycle assessments and matters pertaining to the environment.

In addition to the advisory tasks, DTU performs the national reference laboratory function for in virtually the entire chemical and microbiological fields. Finally, DTU performs a number of monitoring tasks on behalf of the ministries.