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

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Veronica Lattanzio, Giulia Pietrollini, Nathan Meijer, Ine van der Fels-Klerx

HOLiFOOD is a research project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Programme. The project aims to introduce a holistic approach to tackling food systems risks in a changing global environment. The underlying aim is to improve the integrated food safety risk analysis framework in Europe to support the early detection of food risks in the food chain for a safe and sustainable food system.

HOLiFOOD is implementing a multi-actor codesign approach, using the Living Lab (LL) methodology to ensure stakeholders’ needs and requirements are considered at all stages of the project. For this purpose, three LLs have been activated:

1) AI-driven emerging risk identification
2) Holistic risk assessment and acceptance
3) AI-driven digital platform codesign

The implemented approach also relies on the recent FoodSafety4EU experience where the LL methodology was applied for the first time to food safety issues, and digitalized. This collaborative experiment already involved some of the HOLiFOOD partners and experts.

The HOLiFOOD LL process consists of four workshops, following the “innovation development” phases approach, namely i) “Exploration” workshops focused on the priority-setting as a basis for the setup of the action plan ii) “Experimentation” workshops in which the action plan will be discussed and verified, and the mid-term results will be monitored and evaluated. iii) “Evaluation” workshop in which the output of the LL process will be evaluated, and recommendations for further exploitation will be developed.

Co-creation activities in HOLiFOOD LLs involve diverse stakeholder groups aiming at representing in a balanced way the actors operating in the food safety risk sector: research, laboratories, food safety services, consumers, industry and farmers associations, communicators, and including at least one representative from risk assessors and/or risk managers and at least one representative of each HOLiFOOD value chain.

This process also foresees 3 cross-fertilization sessions between the 3 LLs, in which experiences between the 3 LL are exchanged.

The first cross-fertilization session was held online on April 5th, 2024. During the workshop, the participants were guided in a collaborative exercise to critically reflect on the LL interim results with a specific focus on understanding the context, gaps/needs to be addressed, as well as key findings from the exploration phase. In addition to the internal expert working on setting up the LL, external experts from EFSA, UDC– University College Dublin and the EU Food Safety Platform (ASAE, IBA Bucarest) joined the collaborative exercise to provide their feedback and ensure alignment with the EU R&I framework and policies.

For each of the LL topics, starting from the results of the exploration phase, the workshop participants discussed the context, gaps and needs to be addressed, and exploitable fey findings.

Then the group reflected on how to translate these outcomes in suitable content for the “HOLiFOOD white paper”: a co-created, authoritative, science-based document that will provide recommendations to shape the future of food safety in Europe.

Building on the outcomes of the experimentation and evaluation phases, the white paper structure, vision, and contents will be finalized throughout the cross-fertilization workshop series.

Do you want to get involved in the HoliFood LL process?

Learn more here: https://HOLiFOODproject.eu/citizen-and-societal/living-labs/

Stay tuned!

Veronica Lattanzio, Nathan Meijer, Ine van der Fels-Klerx, Sara Altamore, Alessia Careccia

On October 9, 2025, the HOLiFOOD project convened its 2nd Living Labs (LL) Cross-Fertilization workshop, both in person in Bari, Italy, and online, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders from academia, public sector, industry, and EU agencies. This follow-up event built on the momentum of the first workshop, to catch stakeholders’ needs in AI-driven emerging risk prediction and holistic risk assessment solutions.

The Cross-Fertilization workshop represents a pivotal moment in the HOLiFOOD Living Labs process, following the initial exploration and experimentation phases, where the three Living Labs converge to exchange insights, evaluate interim results, and collaboratively steer the project towards its final evaluation and the drafting of a comprehensive white paper outlining future food safety innovation directions.

Managers from the three Living Labs presented their goals and how the LL methodology is serving for collaborative pilot testing and iterative refinement to match end-users needs. External experts joined the participatory workshop, setting the stage for a dynamic exchange of perspectives. The workshop participants were invited to reflect on crucial questions around the HOLiFOOD Early Warning and Emerging Risk Prediction Systems usability and future impact.

Key poll insights revealed stakeholder expectations and concerns:

Prerequisites for platform use: respondents prioritized free, open-source access with intuitive interfaces, supported by clear user guides and compliance with GDPR. The need for well-structured, transparent data and validated tools, recognized officially by European and national food safety authorities, was highlighted.

Barriers to adoption: potential pitfalls included fears over platform complexity, costs, transparency, and the risk of obsolescence given rapid AI developments. The importance of embedding the platform within official regulatory frameworks was underscored to ensure credibility and sustained use.

Competitive landscape and HOLiFOOD’s unique value: stakeholders acknowledged existing platforms such as those developed by FoodSafety4EU, FoodSafeR  and private early-warning systems (e.g. SGS or FOODAKAI), but pointed to HOLiFOOD’s distinctive holistic approach across five dimensions and data interoperability as key advantages. Suggestions were made for potential synergies or integration with established platforms.

The critical question of how to leverage HOLiFOOD’s results beyond the project lifespan prompted participants to rank prospective R&I priorities. The top areas identified were:

1. Enhancing data availability through robust collection, exchange, and interoperable platforms for regulatory, scientific, and industrial stakeholders.

2. Strengthening risk-based and predictive approaches, particularly AI-driven models integrating multi-dimensional data.

3. Supporting regulators with harmonized data tools to aid the continual updating of food safety and fraud regulations.

Less prioritized but still recognized were the encouragement of co-creation with industry stakeholders and the support for Living Labs and pilots to accelerate real-world innovation adoption.

Starting from the pools results, participants reflected on the essential next steps to maximize the impact and usability of the HOLiFOOD platform.

It was widely recognized that tailored training programs for different stakeholders will be crucial to empower users across sectors to effectively leverage these innovations. Moreover, the development of methodologies for searching and identifying relevant information to convert into actionable data was highlighted as both a prerequisite and part of the broader challenge of data availability.

The discussion also underscored the nuanced data sharing dynamics within the food industry. While many companies, especially larger ones, maintain proprietary control over their data to demonstrate food safety management to clients or to promote their risk management products, the incentive to share this data publicly via the HOLiFOOD platform remains unclear. Special attention was given to the realities faced by SMEs, which often lack the resources and capacity to directly engage with complex platforms or commit extensive data.

Participants emphasized the need for added value to motivate such sharing, suggesting a solution whereby data contributors could receive comparative insights, such as benchmarking against industry averages or percentiles, without compromising confidentiality.

Towards the 3^rd cross-fertilization workshop

Gaining support and active participation from both SMEs and larger companies, as well as governmental data providers, was seen as vital to establishing a robust foundational ecosystem for the platform. Initiatives to better understand the added value that companies and public/private control labs might seek in enriching the platform’s data pool were envisaged by the workshop participants and will be embedded in the LL pathway towards the final evaluation phase and the 3rd cross-fertilization workshop.

Do you want to get involved in the HoliFood LL process?

Learn more here: https://HOLiFOODproject.eu/citizen-and-societal/living-labs/

Stay tuned!

IBA Bucharest is proud to celebrate 24 years of dedicated research in food safety by inviting the scientific community to participate in a milestone event: FOOD SAFETY FIRST: Identifying and Reducing Contaminants

📅 Date: November 13, 2024
🌐 Format: Online via Zoom

This event will bring together leading researchers, experts, including the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM Coordinator, Veronica Lattanzio, and Management Board members to address the pressing issue of contaminants in the food supply chain—a pivotal challenge for food safety, public health, and sustainable development in Europe.

🔬 The program will feature:

• Scientific presentations on recent advances in contaminant identification and reduction
• Case studies and innovative research methodologies
• Discussions on collaborative initiatives and future research opportunities
• Interactive Q&A sessions with field specialists

We encourage researchers from all disciplines involved in food safety to join us for knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration.

👉 For event details and registration, visit:
https://lnkd.in/dYNyu4i2

Let’s advance together toward safer and more sustainable food systems!

The third edition of the EU Food Safety Forum will be held on December 2-3, 2025, at the CNR headquarters in Rome and will mark a new milestone for the EU Food Safety Platform journey.

The registration procedure is completed with the payment of the fee, according to the instructions by November 15, 2025. Please check your e-mail for confirmation (also looking into the spam!)

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The Forum is powered by our Platform members

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Thanks also to our supporting partners:

The formula of the Forum will be applied again to improve and feed the connection among policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and young innovators to collaborate on enhancing the EU’s food safety landscape through innovation and multi-stakeholder engagement​.
This year, a new session will be introduced, as proposed by our member Michele Suman from Barilla during the Management Board meeting. It will consist of a dedicated session for addresses and key messages arising from the multi-actor dialogue, to be shaped and conducted by the
EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM Steering Committee.

The EU Food Safety Forum will include the following 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 abstract for the Young session was opened on July 15, closing on September 30.
  The 6 selected young researchers and professionals have been announced on October 9, 2025! more info here
  

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 in Europe. Here you find the SPONSORSHIP PACK to support our event and platform!

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

The International FoodTec Conference – Shaping the Future of Sustainable Food Ecosystems – will be held from the 27th to 29th of October 2025. The event convenes together leading experts in advanced research, innovative food solutions, prominent stakeholders from the food industry, and policymakers focused on strategic planning and funding for the sector.
The Conference is organized under the scope of the European Net4Food Project – Research and Innovation Network for the Food Sector in the Cross-Border Region – and funded by Interreg POCTEP.
Veronica Lattanzio, EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM Coordinator, will be key note speaker in the Session “Innovation, Technology and FoodSecurity in a Changing Global Landscape“.
In her speech, Veronica Lattanzio highlighted the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration and innovation to ensure food safety across dynamic global food systems, addressing challenges like climate change, resource depletion, technological advancement, and evolving consumer expectations. She also stressed the importance of evidence-based decision-making, digital transformation, biotechnology, and data-driven approaches for future-proofing food safety systems.

Theme: Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future

The FAO Science and Innovation Forum (SIF) 2025 will take place from 13 to 17 October at FAO Headquarters in Rome, as part of the World Food Forum. This global event brings together scientists, innovators, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore new paradigms of cooperation and innovation for sustainable agrifood systems.

The Forum will feature high-level plenaries, immersive exhibitions, and interactive sessions focused on building resilient, inclusive, and equitable food systems. Key themes include integrated science, trust-building, inclusive cooperation, and science-policy-society interfaces.

EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM at SIF 2025

The EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM will be among the exhibitors at SIF 2025, presenting its role as a science-policy-society interface that connects over 80 institutions across Europe.

The joint exhibition with CNR ISPA will highlight:

• A Portable Oxygen-Sensor Biosensing Platform for rapid, field-ready microbial detection in food.
• A digital showcase of the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM, including interactive tools, infographics, and co-creation spaces.

This contribution reflects the platform’s commitment to participatory governance, innovation, and collaboration in food safety—aligned with the Forum’s mission to accelerate agrifood systems transformation.
🔗 More info at the SIF Exhibition dedicated page

🔗 Learn more about the FAO Science and Innovation Forum

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

The 6th Edition of ICFC focusing on “Challenges on Emerging Contaminants and Planetary Health” will be held, in person, on the 25th to 26th September 2025 at the auditorium of the Museu de Eletricidade Casa da Luz (www.museucasadaluz.pt) in Funchal,
Madeira, Portugal.
This multidisciplinary conference provides a forum for both internationally established and young researchers to exchange advanced knowledge on Food Contaminants and Human Health. The conference will include lectures given by world-renowned scholars, in
addition to oral and poster presentations.

Key topics include:
🔹 The role of predictive modelling in tackling climate change, food integrity, and One Health challenges
🔹 Harnessing big data, AI, and machine learning for risk assessment and supply chain transparency
🔹 Strengthening collaboration between scientists, industry, and policymakers to build a resilient food system

Congress Dates: September 25-26, 2025
Conference website

The upcoming International Conference on Predictive Modelling in Food and Food Risk Assessment will be held at Technopolis City of Athens, Greece.
Predictive modelling has revolutionized food safety and quality, enabling risk-based decisions, enhanced transparency, and smarter interventions across the food supply chain. This conference will explore how cutting-edge technologies can shape the future of food safety and sustainability in the new era of AI, data science, and digital transformation.

Key topics include:
🔹 The role of predictive modelling in tackling climate change, food integrity, and One Health challenges
🔹 Harnessing big data, AI, and machine learning for risk assessment and supply chain transparency
🔹 Strengthening collaboration between scientists, industry, and policymakers to build a resilient food system

Abstract Submission Deadline: February 28, 2025
Congress Dates: September 1-3, 2025
Conference website