Safe food in a world of changing climate: developing the next generation of Food Safety scientists
BIOTOXDoc is an international doctoral training initiative dedicated to addressing one of the most pressing challenges for food safety in the 21st century: the increasing impact of climate change on the occurrence and distribution of biotoxins in the food and feed chain.
Biotoxins produced by plants, algae, and particularly fungi represent a growing threat to food safety. As climate change and extreme weather events alter environmental conditions, the occurrence, spread, and toxicity of these contaminants are becoming more difficult to predict and manage. At the same time, Europe faces a shortage of highly specialized experts capable of assessing and mitigating emerging biotoxin-related risks.
To respond to these challenges, BIOTOXDoc brings together a multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral consortium of leading academic institutions, research organizations, industry partners, and food safety experts. The programme provides doctoral candidates with advanced scientific training and hands-on experience in developing innovative approaches for the detection, assessment, mitigation, and management of biotoxins across the food and feed chain.
Research and training activities focus on key areas including:
- Climate change impacts on biotoxin occurrence and exposure;
- Early warning systems and predictive risk assessment tools;
- Innovative analytical and monitoring approaches;
- Portable mass spectrometry and on-site testing technologies;
- Novel detoxification and mitigation strategies;
- Rapid screening and confirmatory testing methods;
- Assessment of combined toxicity and emerging food safety risks.
A unifying theme across all BIOTOXDoc projects is the need to understand how changing environmental conditions influence biotoxin patterns and to develop more effective strategies to protect both consumers and animals.
Beyond scientific excellence, BIOTOXDoc aims to strengthen Europe’s food safety capacity by training a new generation of highly skilled researchers equipped with interdisciplinary competences and practical expertise. Through innovative research, international collaboration, and advanced doctoral training, the project contributes to improving food safety resilience in Europe and beyond.
EU Food Safety Platform supports the project consortium partners, by serving as an interface between science, policy, and society, promoting the network, sharing the project within the community, during the EU FOOD SAFETY FORUM 2026.
BIOTOXDoc Symposium: Next Generation Scientists in Food Safety
As part of its training and networking activities, the BIOTOXDoc Doctoral Network is organizing the “Next Generation Scientists in Food Safety” Symposium, which will take place on 18–19 January 2027 at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.
The symposium will bring together early-career researchers, doctoral candidates, and professionals working in food safety to discuss emerging scientific challenges and innovative solutions. Topics will include:
- Climate change and emerging contaminants;
- Novel analytical methods and early warning systems;
- Toxicology and exposure assessment;
- Future perspectives in food safety research.
The programme will feature keynote lectures by internationally recognized experts, alongside opportunities for oral and poster presentations, creating an inspiring platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and scientific collaboration.
By connecting young researchers with leading scientists and stakeholders, the symposium reflects BIOTOXDoc’s mission to foster the next generation of food safety experts capable of addressing current and future challenges in a rapidly changing world.
