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!
REGISTRATIONS are CLOSED!
thank you for joining us!

On November 13 2024 IBA BUCHAREST, celebrating 24 years of research in food safety, will spotlight effective strategies for significantly reducing contaminant levels across various environments, benefiting public health and supporting ecosystem stability.

The workshop will offer a comprehensive overview of current scientific advancements and practical strategies for food contaminants. Reducing contaminants in the food chain is vital for safeguarding food safety, public health, and environmental sustainability. Contaminants can come from diverse sources such as chemical pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial pathogens. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive strategies, including interventions at every stage of the production and supply chain, from sustainable farming practices and stricter regulations to advanced monitoring technologies and improved food processing methods.
Veronica Lattanzio, the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM Coordinator, will discuss “Food Safety and Climate change: a priority for future EU Research and Innovation” and present the contributions generated by the SRIA co-designed by multi-actor groups in the FS4EU project.

AGENDA and event registrations are available on the Workshop webpage here.

IBA BUCHAREST is a supporting partner of FS4EU, boosting the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM

On November 13-14, 2024, FFoQSI GmbH – the Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation – will host the Food Innovation Forum 2024 under the theme “Towards Sustainable Food Systems.” This two-day congress will bring together experts from agriculture, food production, research, and policy to address critical challenges and explore forward-looking solutions for sustainable food systems.

The forum will offer a comprehensive overview of current scientific advancements and practical strategies, with a focus on:

  • recent science and research: presenting the latest findings in sustainable food system innovations
  • ethical considerations: addressing urgent ethical issues, from food waste reduction to meat consumption practices
  • food hygiene and safety: showcasing new approaches to minimizing antibiotic and pesticide use
  • digitalisation: highlighting how digital tools can transform and optimize food industry processes
  • climate change implications: examining the spread of diseases, the emergence of new microorganisms, and the impact of invasive plant species
  • microorganism mapping: exploring methods to reduce spoilage and ensure high production quality

This forum will be a vital opportunity for those in the field to collaborate and discuss sustainable approaches to food production, safety, and environmental impact. The event will take place at the banquet hall of the Vetmeduni Vienna.

FFOQSI is a supporting partner of FS4EU, boosting the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM

The European Commission adopted the 2025 Work Programme for the European Innovation Council (EIC) on 29 October 2024, introducing over €1.4 billion in funding opportunities.
This programme aims to accelerate Europe’s progress in strategic technologies and support high-growth companies. It focuses on innovation with significant potential for market disruption and societal impact.
On Tuesday 5 November 2024, an Info Day will be dedicated to the European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2025 Prospective applicants for the European Innovation Council interested in the upcoming opportunities under the EIC Work Programme 2025 are warmly invited to join this online Info Day to learn more about these opportunities, but also about the successes achieved under the previous work programmes.

High-level speakers from the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) of the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide an overview of three main funding schemes of by EIC.
Live streaming is available here starting from 9.30 a.m. to 16.45 p.m.

The upcoming international conference at BFR, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment entirely dedicated to alternative protein sources will occur in December 2024, in Berlin from 3 to 5 December.
The International Conference on ‘Alternative Proteins for Food and Feed’ will apply a holistic approach by addressing 3 thematic clusters, mainly Regulatory framework/process (Safety, Nutrition, Legal status), Sustainability (Life-cycle assessment, Production) and Consumer acceptance /socio-economic aspects (Product properties, risk-benefit perception).

Registration/programme information: https://www.bfr-akademie.de/apff2024/

The event is promoted by BFR, an FS4EU/EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM supporting member


With the increasing complexity of global food systems, emerging risks in food safety demand more sophisticated approaches. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the field, and, although still emerging, is set to play a critical role in the EU’s food safety systems.
The EU’s FoodSafety4EU and HOLiFOOD projects highlight AI’s potential in predictive risk analysis, digital platform co-design, and fostering a culture of data sharing among stakeholders. By exploring technical, legal, educational barriers and enabling factors, as well as by piloting co-developed solutions, these projects are paving the way for a safer, more resilient food supply chain.

The results achieved so far and the way forward were presented at the EFSA AI Symposium on Data Readiness on Artificial intelligence, held in Parma on October 23 and 24, 2024.

A Multi-Stakeholder Collaborative Framework

FoodSafety4EU and HOLiFOOD employ a “living lab” approach, where AI capabilities are co-developed across various multi-stakeholder participatory workshops. This collaborative model connects and engages with experts from diverse sectors, advancing risk assessment by incorporating cross-disciplinary insights and fostering innovations in AI and machine learning (ML).

The FoodSafety4EU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), as a result of one of these living labs, emphasizes AI’s transformative potential for real-time and anticipatory risk management. It envisages priority research needs to provide food business operators (FBOs) and authorities with the tools necessary for transparent, adaptive food safety protocols.

The ongoing living labs in the HOLiFOOD project are driving a multi-actor co-design approach on AI-related food safety topics, namely i) AI-driven emerging risk identification, ii) holistic risk assessment and acceptance and iii) AI-driven digital platform codesign. Through AI-driven data collection and advanced modelling, these living labs target challenges such as environmental contaminants, microbiological hazards, and climate-driven shifts in foodborne risks.

Future Directions: enablers and challenges in trusted AI development

AI’s role is as effective as the trust it garners from stakeholders. Critical enablers include harmonized legislation for data sharing, user-friendly interfaces, and infrastructure that ensures data accessibility. The EU is urged to streamline policies that facilitate safe data flows while respecting GDPR and data protection laws.

As we move towards integrating AI into everyday food safety practices, ongoing research emphasizes priority risk areas, including pesticide contamination, microbial hazards, and environmental contaminants. Recognizing the nuances of these risks, especially in light of climate change, will require both robust AI-driven data models and a balanced approach to communicating risks to the public and industry players alike.

Find the poster here

 

 

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 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