ICA Events 23 – 25 October 2024 –University of Zagreb, Croatia, and Hybrid


ICA-Edu is focusing in 2024 on the implications of the current developments in artificial intelligence (AI) for university education. The upcoming ICA-Edu events are:

Register for each event here:

  1. *** 2024 ICA-Edu Workshop *** (Hybrid event), 23-24 October: Developing best teaching and learning practices for the professional use of AI in Life Science Higher Education. (no registration fee for attending online).
  2. ICA-CoP Bio Edu Workshop, on 23 to lunchtime on 24 October: Engaging with the corporate world to enhance the provision by life science universities of lifelong learning for professionals in the Bioeconomy. (running in parallel with the ICA-Edu Workshop)
  3. 14th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum from lunch on 24 to lunchtime on 25 October 2024: The Future of Agriculture and Forestry in Europe: implications for Life Science Universities
  4. Local programme, Friday 25 October, 14h, after the Forum: The future for sustainable wine production: from vineyard to bottle

All details are provided on each event website.
Past events:
Another webinar on this topic was held on 25 September “Artificial Intelligence in Education: Enhancing Teaching and Learning Capabilities”
In preparation for the annual Workshop, ICA-Edu held a Webinar on 25 June “Preparing students for the AI era: integrating fundamental AI tools and skills into academic education curricula”. 

ICA is promoted by ISEKI-FOOD, a EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM member

The 2nd EU FOOD SAFETY FORUM will be held on 2 and 3 December 2024 in Rome, at CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche headquarters.
This pivotal event will bring together key stakeholders from across Europe to collaborate on shaping the future of the EU’s Food Safety Systems.

The Forum provides a unique place for experts, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and set a strategic direction for the evolving landscape of food safety. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking approaches, this year’s event will feature several key sessions:

  • Science-Policy-Society Session: this session will address the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to food safety, facilitating discussions among institutions and experts on how to prepare for the future.
  • Co-creation Session: participants will contribute to the ongoing update of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), ensuring it remains aligned with emerging challenges and opportunities.
  • Networking Session: attendees will have the opportunity to explore results and best practices from current EU projects, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across the food safety community.
  • Young Researchers and Innovators Session: this dedicated space will empower the next generation of researchers, providing them with a stage to present fresh ideas and innovative solutions to food safety challenges. The “Call for abstracts” is downloadable below!
    Selected posters from the past edition of the Forum are available here.

The Forum aims to cultivate collaboration and innovation in Food Safety, ensuring the EU continues to lead in protecting public health and foster the ONE HEALTH approach. By integrating scientific research, policy development, and societal needs, the event will pave the way for a more resilient and future-ready EU Food Safety System, following the successful first edition held in Brussels in 2023 (materials available here).

Join us in Rome to be part of this relevant dialogue and
help shape the future of food safety in the EU!

Free participation!
Discover the programme and register by clicking the button below!

The European infrastructure METROFOOD-RI will be participating in the Science Summit during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79). The METROFOOD-RI’s Session will focus on Agroecology, Sustainability, and Innovation.

The hybrid session titled “Agroecology, Sustainability & Innovation – a Pathway for Agrifood” is scheduled for September 25, 2024, at 4 PM EDT (New York time). 

The 2024 UN Science Summit will be held both online and in-person in New York City from September 10 to 27, 2024, featuring a comprehensive program with 400 sessions, 1800 speakers, and 12,000 participants.  This event will spotlight the pivotal role of science and innovation in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

METROFOOD-RI is thrilled to contribute to this important discussion, particularly in the context of the agri-food sector. As underscored by the SDGs, ensuring sustainable food production, securing employment, and delivering high-quality, and safe products are vital for our global community. Research Infrastructures (RIs) like METROFOOD-RI are instrumental in addressing these challenges by integrating resources, data, and services to benefit all stakeholders in the agri-food sector. 
This session will explore:

  • The role of Research Infrastructures in tackling agrifood system challenges
  • The “One Health” approach and its significance in promoting food quality and safety
  • Innovations and strategies for improving food authenticity, traceability, and sustainability

To attend the session, registration at Science Summit UNGA79 is required (please make sure to register well in advance as registration requires confirmation emails). 







The Workshop “Risk Assessment in food safety: training and scientific opportunities“ will be held on September 17, 2024, in Rome, Italy. 
The Workshop contributes to feed a collaboration project between the Italian National Focal point of EFSA and the – Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e Toscana (IZSLT), to provide knowledge and tools to approach training opportunities in the field of animal health assessment. 
During the event, the speakers will offer an overview of national and European experiences, opportunities and perspectives, for professional development and networking to university students, postgraduates or young professionals interested in the sector of risk assessment in food safety, and professionals.
Dr. @Veronica Lattanzio, EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM Coordinator, will present the networking experiences and cooperation that have arisen in the framework of the EU-FORA supervision as a host organization and the FoodSafety4EU project.






                        

                    

                

            

        

            

            

                

                    

                        

                            

The congress – September, 8-12 2024, Rimini – Italy –  aims to outline the new challenges that the food sector will face and for these reasons the multi- and interdisciplinary meeting of all the scientific communities. This year’s programme includes industry-based workshops, distinguished plenary and keynote speakers, applied research presentations and a plethora of networking opportunities since more than 2,500 delegates are expected from the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and worldwide.












In this global framework, Veronica Lattanzio, the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM Coordinator, on September 11 will present the platform as a place where to build capacity for transdisciplinary expertise for Food Safety, during the session organized by ISEKI-Food Association, also a member of our platform, dedicated to the SKILLS FOR THE FOOD SYSTEM TRANSITION.  
Marco Montemurro, from CNR ISPA too, will participate in the conference presenting his last research results in the session on Functional Foods about the “Exploitation of Spent Coffee Ground (Scg) as a source of functional compounds and growth substrate for probiotic lactic acid bacteria“.  Other representatives and members of our platform will join the event too! 
Look at the conference website for further information: https://iufost2024-italy.com

                        

                    

                

            

        

            

            

                

                    

                        

                            

In 2023, the European Food Safety platform, coordinated by the CNR ISPA – Institute of Sciences of Food Production of the National Research Council, was officially launched, being co-designed and developed within the EU project FoodSafety4EU. The project, funded by the European Commission and also promoted by EFSA, established an international network of approximately 80 stakeholders, including institutions, universities, entities, businesses, industry associations, and consumers.





This network was formalized in Brussels in 2023 through the signature of the Terms of Reference by a first nucleus of 23 organizations, giving rise to the multi-stakeholder “EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM.” The platform aims to:





    

  • Foster European dialogue on food safety,
    • 




  • Provide input for European strategies and policies,
    • 




  • Contribute to the harmonization of interventions in this field by involving National Food Safety Authorities,
    • 




  • Generate new content for the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda,
    • 




  • Share knowledge and apply participatory methodologies in the sector,
    • 




  • Promote education and training for young researchers and professionals,
    • 




  • Support Research & Innovation in food safety through international projects,
    • 




  • Consolidate the network of expertise by connecting experts and operators in the sector.
    • 








Starting from Bari, the platform was launched on  7 June 2023 –  World Safety Day – with the participation of EFSA, the Metropolitan City of Bari, CNR, and other international institutional representatives (JRC-EC, SCAR Food System).












In 2023, the platform was showcased during the European Food Safety Forum in Brussels and at the FS4EU project stand during the FOOD2030 Conference, upon invitation by the European Commission. This event initiated preliminary contacts with some representatives of the European Parliament and other European networks.
After the end of the project, the platform continued its journey by establishing a legal entity, fostering new initiatives at EU, National and Regional levels, and continuing to present and exploit the main results in international workshops and conferences.  During the Kick-Off Meeting (KOM) in 2024, the EU Food Safety Platform members took significant steps in structuring the platform’s governance. Key decisions included the establishment of the Management Board and the proposal of candidates for the Multi-actor Advisory Board and the EU Food Safety Platform Steering Committee.





















Collaboration with EU Projects










The EU Food Safety Platform has become a pivotal force in enhancing food safety across Europe, collaborating with various innovative projects to tackle emerging risks and improve food safety systems. 





The cooperation between the EU Food Safety Platform and these projects illustrates a comprehensive approach to tackling food safety challenges in Europe. By leveraging diverse methodologies and fostering stakeholder engagement, these initiatives aim to create a safer food environment for all citizens. 





The EU Food Safety Platform complements the collective efforts of HOLiFOOD, UpRise, MycoTwin, FoodSafeR, and other projects not only enhancing the understanding of food safety risks but also promoting participatory processes and networking that are essential to connect the actors within the system, to make it more sustainable and resilient in a rapidly changing world. 





The synergy between the EU Food Safety Platform and several key projects: HOLiFOOD, UpRise, MycoTwin, and FoodSafeR are highlighted below.












HOLiFOOD – The project aims to introduce a holistic approach to food systems risks. Launched in 2022, this four-year initiative brings together 17 organizations from 10 European countries. Its primary goal is to enhance the integrated food safety risk analysis framework, facilitating early detection of food risks within the supply chain. By leveraging big data and artificial intelligence, HOLiFOOD seeks to develop predictive systems for both known and emerging food safety hazards. The EU Food Safety Platform contribution emphasizes co-creation methodologies, involving stakeholders through living labs and citizen science initiatives to ensure that all voices are heard in the decision-making process. 
















UpRise – The UpRise project aims to provide groundbreaking knowledge to understand mycotoxin contamination and to deliver solutions in Africa. The EU Food Safety Platform contribution focuses on exploiting the Net-Map Analysis and a digital toolkit for risk assessment developed by the FS4EU project. This methodology will help to visualize and analyze the complex networks involved in food safety, allowing stakeholders to identify critical points of intervention. By integrating the digital toolkit into the activities, the project will enhance the capacity of food safety professionals to assess risks effectively and develop targeted strategies for mitigation. The collaboration with the EU Food Safety Platform will also foster the dissemination of insights gained from UpRise and a culture of proactive risk management across the EU.





MycoTwin  – The MycoTwin project addresses the pressing issue of mycotoxins in the food chain. The EU Food Safety Platform is hosting a working group dedicated to exploring future-proof approaches for the management of toxigenic fungi and associated mycotoxins along the food chain.  This initiative is crucial, as mycotoxins pose significant health risks and economic challenges in food production. By collaborating with the EU Food Safety Platform, MycoTwin aims also to share best practices and innovative strategies among stakeholders, ensuring that the management of mycotoxins is both effective and sustainable.





FoodSafeR – The FoodSafeR project, coordinated by FFoQSI, brings together 19 leading European academic, research, and industry organizations. It aims to revolutionize the way emerging food safety hazards are assessed and managed, by creating a comprehensive suite of future-oriented tools, methods, strategies, models, guidance, and training materials. The EU Food Safety Platform is exploring ways to integrate/link the FS4EU knowledge center, and to various food safety knowledge sources, enhancing the accessibility of critical information for stakeholders across the food supply chain. The EU Food Safety Platform can support FoodSafeR to streamline information sharing and foster a more informed community of food safety professionals.







The EU Food Safety Platform offers spaces for cooperation with other projects on food safety and sustainability, being committed to 
fostering robust collaboration with various EU projects to enhance food safety across Europe.















National and Regional engagements












In Italy, we established a non-profit association to support the platform and activated several participatory processes at the national level within the National AGRITECH Center (PNRR project).





We formed working groups with Zooprophylactic Institutes (Veneto, Umbria and Marche, Lazio), the Higher Institute of Health, and initiated dialogues with the Ministry of Health, the Puglia Region, and the University of Parma.





At the regional level in Puglia, we organized a series of events on food sustainability in collaboration with the Metropolitan City of Bari (Polisostenibili – ASVIS 2024 Festival).







Our journey continues as we strive to enhance food safety, quality, and sustainability across Europe, connecting and empowering stakeholders through collaborative efforts and innovative research.



                        

                    

                

            

        

            

            

                

                    

                        

                            

Many European consumers are consuming more than the recommended amount of added and free sugars and low- or no-calorie sweeteners offer a potential alternative for people to looking to reduce their intake. Yet consumers are confused about the benefits and risks of sweeteners, and often their perceptions of the health risks of their consumption do not align with the best evidence from the available data on their safety and efficacy. Therefore stakeholders engaged in communication about the sweetener use need to work together to develop innovative and effective communication strategies to improve communication around the topic to the general public.





On 23 September 2024, EUFIC will host and moderate a multi-stakeholder Communication Lab where a diverse range of stakeholders to engage in a dialogue around best practices for communicating to the general public about the health benefits and potential risks of sweetener use.





Why is this relevant ?
During the communication lab, participants will hear insights on consumer perceptions and media portrayal of sweeteners and have a chance to contribute to discussions where they will explore current and future constraints and requirements for effective communication and co-create innovative communication strategies to address these.





Register your interest to attend here.

                        

                    

                

            

        

            

            

                

                    

                        

                            

The Academy of Romanian Scientists and University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest are organizing the fifth edition of the International Scientific Conference “Applications of Chemistry in Nanosciences and Biomaterials Engineering (NanoBioMat)” for young researchers on 19-21 June 2024 (online).





The topics for the conference include: 
• novel materials; • surface chemistry; • air and soil bioremediation;
• composite materials and biomaterials; • applications of natural compounds and chemical products;
• nanomaterials and bionanomaterials for the controlled release of biologically active molecules;
• bio nanoproducts for bone and tissue regeneration; 
• advanced techniques for material processing; • circular economy.





Veronica Lattanzio and Nastasia Belc will co-chair the session “FOOD SAFETY AND NATURAL COMPOUNDS FOR HEALTH“.





They will also present “The EU Food Safety Platform: which opportunities for Youngs acting for the future of Food Safety in EU”.















A  large number of papers – 110 (including 7 plenary lectures and 4 Keynote) will be presented in ~2.5days. 
Colleagues/collaborators/relatives are welcome to participate but they have to make the first part of registration – to fill out the MS FORMS: https://forms.office.com/e/q8gCB4C0s6 .
This registration is free and requires less than 1 minute.

                        

                    

                

            

        

            

            

                

                    

                        

                            

The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT Prague, Czech Republic) and Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), part of Wageningen University & Research (The Netherlands) organize the 11th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA 2024) in Prague, from November 5 to 8, 2024. 





They’re going to prepare a balanced programme including oral presentations given both by invited speakers, researchers and young scientists, satellite workshops, interactive and vendor seminars, extensive poster sessions and nice social events.
Registration open here ! deadline 31 July 2024

                        

                    

                

            

        

            

            

                

                    

                        

                            
The one-hour webinar, organized by ILSI EUROPE, aims to provide a comprehensive update on the Risk-Benefit Assessment of Foods and discuss the current needs and limitations of launching an international survey.




The ILSI Europe Food Contaminants Task Force and the Risk Benefit Assesment (RBA) of Foods Expert Group, what is RBA, and the latest developments will be presented too.




 






Registration here: Current Perspectives on Risk-Benefit Assessment in Food Safety and Nutrition: Where Do
We Stand? – Webinar – ILSI Europe