Science and technology support is indispensable to ensure food security. The European Union attaches great importance to research and innovation in food systems. The study of EU’s policies to support food system research and innovation can provide reference for the reform of China's policies to support food system research and innovation in its new development stage. In this paper, it reviews the historical evolution and framework of the EU's support policy for research and development innovation of food system, the fund structure, key support areas, and support characteristics. It also shows that the EU’s fund for research and development of food system comes from both the EU and its member states. Among them, the Framework Programmes provide funding support for research and development innovation. Food 2030 provides policy guidance; The research and development expenditure on food systems continues to increase, and shows a trend consistent with the priorities and paths of Food 2030; The fund focuses on the primary production sector and pays attention to research and development of basic projects, as well as the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises. Combining with the analysis of China's policies to support food system R&D innovation, it has made some policy recommendations, such as increasing R&D innovation funding support, establishing a multi-party participation mechanism to form policy synergy, improving basic R&D support, and focusing on transformation of market-side achievement.

EU  /  R&D innovation support policies  /  food system