Funding Organisation (public) / Programme Manager for German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) is an independent authority under public law within the area of responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). As a central implementing authority in the agricultural sector, the BLE fulfils a variety of tasks including measures, which strengthen agriculture, food production, fishery and forestry as well as rural areas. The BLE unit “European Research Affairs” has its focus on the coordination and collaboration towards ERA and is currently a partner in 12 ERA-NETs and 2 JPIs along the whole value added chain. The BLE is also member of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) on behalf of BMEL and Chair of the SCAR Foresight Group. With its Unit on “European Research Affairs”, BLE therefore engaged in the establishment of the Collaborative Working Group on Sustainable Animal Production under the SCAR and is now Coordinator of the resulting ERA-NET Cofund “SusAn”.