THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CONSENSUS ON THE URGENT NEED FOR THE EU AND MEMBER STATES TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN R & D IN ORDER TO PROMOTE A SHIFT TO PRODUCTION OF VALUE-ADDED FOODS. EUROPEAN POLICIES FALL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF HORIZON 2020, THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES, THE NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR AGRI-FOOD AND FORESTRY INNOVATION AND THE EUROPEAN INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP FOR AGRICULTURE (EIP-A) AS CORE PILLARS.