EU FOOD SAFETY FORUM 2024 insights

The second edition of the EU Food Safety Forum, held on December 2-3, 2024, at the CNR headquarters in Rome, marked another significant milestone for the EU Food Safety Platform.
Introduced by Antonio Moretti and Veronica Lattanzio from CNR ISPA, the Forum gathered about 100 policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and young innovators to collaborate on enhancing the EU’s food safety landscape through innovation and multi-stakeholder engagement​.

Science-Policy-Society Synergy

The opening session focused on integrating scientific research with policymaking and societal needs. This approach emphasized a holistic strategy, ensuring food safety initiatives align with public health priorities and evolving consumer expectations​. After thanking our institutional guests for their valuable contributions and availibility to cooperate with the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM, we heard their key messages by: Michele Picaro, Member of the European Parliament and ENVI, Antonio Decaro, President of ENVI and Member of the European Parliament, Giovanni Leonardi from the Italian Ministry of Health, Stef Bronzwaer from EFSA, and Lamia Somai from INSSPA, the Tunisian Food Safety Authority.

Updating the SRIA: A Multi-Stakeholder Vision

The session titled “Updating the SRIA: A Multi-Stakeholder Vision” brought together diverse perspectives to shape the future of food safety research and innovation. This session featured the work of the European Partnership on Sustainable Future of Food Systems, with an insightful presentation by Claude Yven, coordinator of the FutureFoodS Partnership (ANR, France). The discussion focused on aligning efforts to ensure resilient, sustainable, and safe food systems across Europe.
The session provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on how collaborative efforts and cutting-edge research have already begun transforming food systems, equipping them to meet future challenges, by exploring relevant topics and research directions from EU projects and addressing the question: How are EU projects driving innovation and boosting food safety in European food systems?

This critical discussion showcased how science, policy, and innovation converge to define priorities for the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).

Future-Oriented Co-Creation

A co-creation session, led by EU Food Safety Platform experts Nastasia Belc (IBA Bucharest) and Pieternel Luning (WUR), focused on updating the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) to address emerging challenges. Stakeholders, working in 4 sub-groups, contributed insights on biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and ethical considerations in food safety, paving the way for forward-thinking strategies, by co-designing pathways and ideas for further projects.​

Cooperation space

The EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM provided space for cooperation in the future, defining the wide framework including infrastructures, networks and innovation players.
The European Research infrastructures presentations provided an overview of resources and services offered by MIRRI, METROFOOD-RI, and EUROFIR, together with the networks GHI – Global Harmonization Initiative and the Catalyze thematic network on food safety.

MEDFILES and LVA remarked on the role of the technologies and industries in boosting the food safety systems in Europe. Monika Tomaniova and Mari Eskola interactively conducted the session!

Youth Innovation and Empowerment

6 selected Young researchers took centre stage in the “Youths in action for the Future of Food Safety in the EU” session, showcasing their innovative ideas and participating in the “Ask the Experts” dialogue.
Three young researchers — Joana Oliveira, Melisa Jaramillo Zapata, and Tiina Mandel — won the pitch competition. They will now have the chance to promote their ideas in the Young Minds of Food Safety podcast series, supported by our member LVA Ltd. Click here for details!

Looking Ahead

This vibrant Forum underscored the EU Food Safety Platform’s commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability through collaborative efforts.

As participants return to their respective fields, the lessons learned and partnerships formed in Rome are expected to drive impactful changes in food safety systems across Europe.
The continued engagement of all stakeholders will be crucial in advancing the platform’s goals and ensuring a safer food future for all.

Join us and see you next year!

ANNOUNCEMENT and PROGRAMME

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!