Next Generation Scientists in Food Safety

The BIOTOXDoc Doctoral Network is organizing the “Next Generation Scientists in Food Safety” Symposium, 18–19 January 2027, at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.
This event will gather early‑career researchers and professionals to discuss climate change and emerging contaminants, novel analytical methods and early warning systems, toxicology and exposure, and the future of food safety.
The programme includes keynote lectures by leading experts and opportunities for oral and poster presentations;
Fill in the registration form and look for details about abstract submission in the symposium webpage here.
The event is included in the project BIOTOXDoc – “Safe food in a world of changing climate: The doctoral training programme to develop novel control, mitigation and risk assessment methods for biotoxins” , a new international PhD training initiative focusing on biotoxins.
Biotoxins from plants, algae and especially fungi are an increasingly important food safety challenge, as climate change and extreme weather events make their occurrence less predictable and potentially more severe along the food and feed chain. At the same time, Europe faces a shortage of specialised food safety experts able to assess and manage these risks, which calls for new scientific approaches and dedicated training programmes.

The project BIOTOXDoc is responding to this need, by bringing together a multidisciplinary, multi‑sectoral team of world‑class experts to train doctoral candidates in advanced methods for detecting, assessing and mitigating biotoxins along the food and feed chain. Research and training activities include the development of early warning systems, on‑site testing using portable mass spectrometry, novel detoxification strategies, and rapid as well as confirmatory tests to address major knowledge gaps on biotoxin occurrence and combined toxicity.

A common thread across all BIOTOXDoc projects is the impact of climate change on biotoxin patterns and the need to revise mitigation strategies to protect European consumers and animals. By building a new generation of highly skilled food safety scientists and delivering innovative tools for biotoxin control, BIOTOXDoc directly contributes to safer food in Europe and globally.

The fourth edition of the EU Food Safety Forum will be held on
December 10-11, 2026 in Rome!

By marking a new milestone for the EU Food Safety Platform journey, the 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 Youth session opens on 15th July, closing on September 30.
  The 6 selected young researchers and professionals will be announced in October 2026.
  

The formula of the Forum will be applied 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​.
For the second year, the session proposed by Michele Suman from Barilla, as a Management Board member, will help to catch addresses and key messages arising from the multi-actor dialogue. It will be conducted by the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM Steering Committee.

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 Forum is powered by Platform members and supporting partners

Registrations will open soon!

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Note: the registration procedure will be completed by November 28, 2026, with the payment of the fee according to the procedure’s instructions .
Please check your e-mail for confirmation (also looking into the spam!)

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November 3-6, 2026 Prague, Czech Republic

The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT Prague, Czech Republic) and Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), part of Wageningen University & Research (The Netherlands) organize the 12th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA 2026) in Prague, from November 3 to 6, 2026.

The RAFA 2026 Symposium will offer a comprehensive overview of current trends in analytical and bioanalytical strategies for food quality and safety control, while also addressing key challenges and emerging approaches in the analysis of food and natural products.

The programme includes oral presentations given both by invited speakers, researchers and young scientists, satellite workshops, interactive and vendor seminars, extensive poster sessions and nice social events.
The symposium chairs are:
Prof. Jana Pulkrabova & Dr. Stefan van Leeuwen, Symposium Chairs
Prof. Michele Suman, Symposium Co-chair
Prof. Jana Hajslova & Prof. Michel Nielen, Symposium Honorary chairs

IMPORTANT DATES

Registration are open! click here ! regular registrations expire on 30 September 2026

Abstract submission for oral presentation and young scientist oral presentation: June 30, 2026

Abstract submission for poster presentation: August 31, 2026

Notification of Abstracts acceptance: September 23, 2026

Last minute posters deadline: September 30, 2026

On 24–25 September 2026, the European Commission’s Directorate‑General for Agriculture and Rural Development will host the “EU AgRI 2040 Conference” in Brussels, dedicated to the “New Strategic Approach to Research and Innovation for competitive, resilient and sustainable agriculture, forestry, rural areas and food systems: Future‑proofing EU agri‑food through AgRI 2040 and Food 2040”.

This two‑day high‑level event will provide a space for reflection, exchange and co‑creation with key stakeholders on priorities for future research and innovation (R&I) in agriculture, forestry and rural areas. Its overall ambition is to support the delivery of the Vision for Agriculture and Food through the next EU Research and Innovation Programme 2028–34 (FP10) and the future European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), helping to steer investments towards more sustainable and resilient agri‑food systems.

The conference will host a multi‑actor setting offering the opportunity to align research agendas with the needs and expectations of those who operate daily along the food and forestry value chains.

For the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM the conference is a strategic moment to contribute its experience in participatory processes and Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas (SRIA) to the broader AgRI 2040 and Food 2040 debate. Building on its role as an interface between science, policy and society and on its involvement in European projects such as HOLiFOOD, MyMatch, FoodSafeR, AGRITECH and others, the Platform can bring concrete evidence and stakeholder insights on emerging food safety risks, climate‑related challenges and the transition towards sustainable food systems.

By engaging in the EU AgRI 2040 Conference discussions and networking activities, the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM aims to:

• feed food‑safety and sustainability priorities into the design of FP10 and the future European Competitiveness Fund
• strengthen alliances with key EU and national institutions, R&I actors and agri‑food stakeholders
• explore new opportunities for collaboration, co‑creation labs and living labs that can support the digital Food Safety Knowledge Center and future editions of the EU FOOD SAFETY FORUM.

Further information and the conference programme are available on the European Commission website.
Registrations close on July 3, 2026.

EFSA 3rd Science Meets Policy conference

The third EFSA “Science Meets Policy” conference, titled “From Regulation to Practice – Turning WGS into Action for Foodborne Outbreak Investigation,” will take place over two days in Rome, Italy, from September 2 (12:00 CEST) to September 3 (14:00 CEST), 2026.
Organized by EFSA and the EURLs Working Group on Next Generation Sequencing, it builds on prior successes by addressing practical implementation of the new Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/179, which mandates WGS data sharing for key pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and Campylobacter starting August 23, 2026.

The event kicks off with an afternoon focus on the EU-level WGS regulatory framework, including the EFSA–ECDC One Health system and lab accreditation needs, followed by real-world examples of collaboration between competent authorities and food industries. The next morning shifts to the food industry’s role as primary data holders, with presentations from industry reps on hands-on experiences, technical hurdles, regulatory demands, and financial strains—especially for resource-limited businesses. It wraps up with a moderated panel discussion among authorities and industry leaders to pinpoint opportunities, challenges, and actionable insights for WGS data sharing.

Aimed at food industry representatives, EU/national competent authorities, reference labs, associations, and other WGS/food safety stakeholders, the conference seeks to foster engagement, clarify requirements, and promote cross-EU partnerships.

Registration is online here and closes at capacity or by May 13, 2026, 12:00 CEST.

 Rome, Italy – 2 September 2026, 12:00 – 18:00 (CEST) –  3 September 2026, 09:00 – 14:00 (CEST)

MYCOAFRICA: Advancing Mycotoxin Management ensuring Food Security and Safety for One Health

The African Society of Mycotoxicology organizes the 4th African Symposium on Mycotoxicology (ASM 2026), “MYCOAFRICA: Advancing Mycotoxin Management ensuring Food Security and Safety for One Health” from 02-05 August 2026 at the Windhoek International Convention Centre, Namibia. The symposium is jointly organised by ASM and the University of Namibia, with the support of the International Society for Mycotoxicology (ISM).

ASM 2026 will address mycotoxin challenges across the food and feed chain with strong links to food security, public health, and One Health. Conference themes include:

• Mycotoxin exposure and One Health
• Mycotoxins and Climate change
• Advances in mycotoxin analysis: challenges in detection in food and feed; detoxification methods
• Impact-oriented Strategies for Mycotoxin Management in Africa
• Socioeconomic Dimensions of the Mycotoxin Burden in Africa
• Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Mycotoxin Risk Management
• Policy and Regulatory Interventions for Mycotoxin Control

The organisers look forward to welcoming participants to share knowledge and co-develop solutions that strengthen mycotoxin management and food safety across African food systems.
Further information and updates are available at https://africansocietyofmycotoxicology.org/

Turning climate insight into safer food futures

Climate change is already reshaping what grows where, how food travels, and what risks emerge along the way, often in ways that are hard to see until they become hard to ignore. Join us for a practical conversation with three leading experts who are connecting the dots between climate science, food safety policy, and the invisible threats, like mycotoxins, that are quietly increasing across Europe and beyond.

Panellists:

Octavian Augustin Mihalache | Tenure-track Assistant Professor (CPJ),INRAE

Jean-Christophe Meile | Researcher in Tropical Food Microbiology at CIRAD

Bas Van der Velden | Head of Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, Wageningen Food Safety Research

The webinar is coordinated and promoed by our member EUFIC and SFSN – SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM NETWORK .

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HNpbsUiIQV6RCAyP_CS6pA

EIT Food Consumer Engagement Labs (CEL) webinar on 2 June, 10:00 CEST – online.

CEL is a European co-creation model developed and delivered by the The Centre for Socially Responsible Innovations(CSRI) from the Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw under EIT Food. It brings consumers, scientists and companies together to co-create food products that reach the market.
On 2 June they will show how the CEL co-creation model works in practice – through the eyes of people who have used it.
Nunzia Cito and Vincenzo Tagliatore (National Research Council of Italy & Colle di Seta), present the successful lab developed in Italy: SENIORFOOD: Sustainable, ENgaging, Innovative Options for Resilient Food

Speaking at the webinar:

• Dragana Ubiparip · Food Institute of Novi Sad, Serbia
  • On running a co-creation process with food technologists, sensory specialists and consumers under one roof.
• Nunzia Cito · National Research Council of Italy
  • On co-creating with older adults around a food technology they had never encountered before.
• Magdalena Zatorska · University of Warsaw
  • On the CEL methodology: how 103 partner organisations across 20 countries use the same framework to develop different products.
• Magdalena Kiełkiewicz · University of Warsaw
  • On 43 products that came out of the process – and what they have in common.

EU Food Safety Platform WFSD 2026 multi-stakeholder dialogue

This year’s World Food Safety Day theme”From burden to solutions – safe food everywhere”, underlines how robust data on foodborne diseases can be transformed into concrete actions that protect everyone’s health.
After its successful 2025 edition, to celebrate World Food Safety Day 2026, the EU Food Safety Platform feeds a week-long multi-stakeholder dialogue from 1 to 7 June 2026, featuring contributions from its members and partners across Europe. The aim is to showcase experiences, data-driven approaches and innovative practices that translate the global theme into concrete actions at EU and national level.
The event announcement is also available here: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/news-and-events/news-details/en/c/1759121/

Day by day, starting on June 1, we’re sharing valuable resources provided by our members,
available here and in our Knowledge Center!

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Selected contributions and topics may be further explored in the upcoming EU Food Safety Forum 2026, offering a pathway from online dialogue to deeper face-to-face discussion and potential follow-up actions. This is an opportunity to give visibility to innovative experiences and to collectively advance solutions that make food safer for all.
👉 Explore the official page of the WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY!

© FAO 2026, Location on FAO website: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/world-food-safety-day/theme-slogan/en/, accessed March 11, 2026
By quantifying the impact of unsafe food, national authorities, food business operators and consumers can prioritise risks, design targeted interventions and make informed choices that reduce illness, costs and avoidable loss of life. Reliable health and surveillance data are the backbone of effective food safety governance, enabling evidence-based policies, coordinated multisectoral responses and smarter investments along the entire food chain. From farm to fork, all actors – farmers and producers, transporters, retailers, food inspectors, food handlers and consumers – benefit from science-based guidance that helps prevent contamination and foodborne outbreaks. Turning the “burden” into “solutions” means using information on who is most affected, where, and why, to implement measures that make food as safe as possible, everywhere.

The call for contributions was launched on April 2. EU Food Safety Platform selected members were invited to share short inputs such as case studies, tools, policy initiatives, research insights, training or communication activities that illustrate how they use evidence to strengthen food safety. Link for submission (deadline 17 April 2026): FORM to join the celebration of World Food Safety Day 2026.

Innovation in Research and Education for the transition to sustainable food systems

ISEKIFOOD26 – the 8th International ISEKI-Food Conference 2026 will take place from June 1st to 3rd, 2026, and will be hosted by the University of Algarve in Faro, the heart of the southern coast of Portugal. This year’s conference, themed “Innovation in Research and Education for the Transition to Sustainable Food Systems,” will be a platform for global experts to discuss pioneering advancements in the agri-food sector.

This edition will provide opportunities for oral and poster presentations across three major topics, aiming to foster discussions and collaborations toward more sustainable food systems:

1.   Education and training for sustainable and innovative food systems
2.   Research for sustainable and innovative food systems
3.   Responsible food production and consumption

Key Dates to Remember:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: 8 February 2026
• Notification of Abstract Acceptance: 20 Mar 2026
• Early Bird Registration Closing: 13 April 2026 (payment to be completed by May 1)
• Online Registration Closing: 1 May 2026

For more details visit the conference website