1. Recognising the intrinsic and economic value of culture, the Programme shall support actions and activities with a European added value in the cultural and creative sectors.

The strong social and economic importance of farming activities within the rural communities across this country increases the significance of value-added agricultural initiatives, because the benefit will spill out far beyond the farm.

Value-added agriculture can help to increase employment and revitalize those communities, reduce the economic risk associated with trade, diversify the economic base of rural communities, increase the financial stability of farmers, promote a culture of research and innovation, reduce dependency on the world price of commodities and, perhaps most important, offer a way to attract and retain a new generation of farmers.

Security research at Community level will maintain an exclusively civil orientation and focus on activities of clear added value to the national level. As a consequence, civil security research within the Seventh Framework Programme will reinforce the competitiveness of the European security industry.

Activities supported under this strand of the Framework Programme will have a real Community added value, by virtue of their contribution to economic and social cohesion.

Value-added agriculture is seen as a way to increase employment and revitalize rural communities; reduce economic risks associated with trade action; diversify the economic base for rural communities; increase financial stability; promote a culture of research and innovation; reduce dependency on the world price of commodities; increase opportunities for smaller farms and companies through niche markets; increase quality and brand recognition of regional and Canadian products; promote collective solutions and partnerships among the food value chain; and help retain young farmers.