Workshop “The transition towards a safe and sustainable food system in a changing world: a One Health challenge”

Rome, 6 October 2025

On Monday, 6 October 2025, Rome will host the international workshop “The transition towards a safe and sustainable food system in a changing world: a One Health challenge”, organized by the National Institute of Health – Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) in collaboration with the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of the Veneto- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe).

Faced with profound changes in the global scenario, food production systems must urgently address increasingly complex challenges: climate change, the globalisation of the food supply chain, population growth, mass migration and changing eating habits. All these factors make it necessary to transition to a food system that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. 

Food, climate, health and the economy will therefore be the focus of the meeting, which will feature experts from leading international health agencies such as FAO, EFSA, Wageningen University (Netherlands), Catalan Water Partnership (Spain), as well as speakers from the organising bodies. They will take stock of the current situation and identify the scientific knowledge and needs that will guide this transition in the medium to long term. 

The main objective of the day is to identify emerging trends and new health hazards, analysing the possible implications for health risk assessments. The workshop aims to explore the role of the circular economy in achieving food sustainability goals and to identify innovations and sentinel events that can help anticipate the need for new health risk management strategies. 

A round table will follow, with delegates from FAO, WHO, and WOAH joining other speakers. The discussion will focus on how to evaluate the factors influencing sustainability, the necessary support from policymakers and laboratories to make the new framework operational, and ways to verify its effectiveness. Finally, the group will also reflect on social challenges and the active involvement of citizens, with the goal of building future food systems that are truly sustainable, equitable, and safe, following an integrated One Health approach. 

Details 

The workshop will be held in English (without translation) at the Pocchiari Hall at the ISS headquarters in Rome, Viale Regina Elena 299. 
Attendance is free, with 200 available spots on a first-come, first-served basis. A certificate of participation will be issued upon request. 
The event is particularly suitable for researchers, public health professionals, policymakers, journalists, and other stakeholders. 

Registration
Registration is required by September 15, 2025, using the online form at this address: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/2PEvXxEADd  

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required by 15 September 2025 via the online form: registration link

Organizing Secretariat  
Guendalina Fornari Luswergh | Istituto Superiore di Sanità  
E-mail: guendalina.fornariluswergh@iss.it  

The programme of the day is available here