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)

Cross-Sector Synergies among RIs to Strengthen European Research on the Impact of Micro- and Nanoplastics.

The Horizon Europe project FHERITALE (Food, Health and Environment Research Infrastructures to Tackle Emerging Priorities) organizes an in-person stakeholder meeting on 26 May 2026 (9:30-18:00) at Sciensano’s Groeselenberg satellite in Brussels.
The event targets Research Infrastructure ecosystems, micro/nanoplastics researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders.

Participants will explore FHERITALE’s key findings, including gaps in service provision, instrumentation, and expertise within the RI landscape.

Discussions will focus on RI collaborations to address these challenges and integrating project outcomes into existing and future endeavors, advancing solutions for plastics’ impacts on food safety, health, and the environment.

Coordinated by CIRMMP (University of Florence) with partners like Instruct-ERIC, AnaEE-ERIC, METROFOOD, and EIRENE, FHERITALE aligns with EUFSP’s multi-actor approach.
In line with the cooperation pathways set in the TOR, the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM Coordinator will join the event to participate in the cross-sector dialogue.

Registration: Open via Google Form.
AGENDA: here
Info: fheritale@instruct-eric.org


Science–policy–society interface in food policy

The FutureFoodS Partnership hosts Webinar 3 on the science-policy-society interface (SPSI) in food policy, focusing on institutional and territorial coherence.
The session of Wednesday 22 April 2026 (10:00 12:00 CET) will recap outcomes from Webinars 1 and 2, integrating Miro board contributions to outline a draft typology of SPI/SPSI contexts relevant to FutureFoodS objectives. A keynote presentation will elaborate on the rationale for a joint conceptual framework supporting coherent policy formulation in holistic Food Systems approaches, introducing draft proposals for common principles and practice guidelines.

Interactive group work will focus on refining these guidelines, developing training course concepts, and establishing typologies for SPI/SPSI aligned with FutureFoodS priorities, culminating in a plenary synthesis of proposals.

Registration available here 

EU Food Safety Platform WFSD 2026 multi-stakeholder dialogue

This year’s World Food Safety Day theme has been officially announced: “From burden to solutions – safe food everywhere”, underlining how robust data on foodborne diseases can be transformed into concrete actions that protect everyone’s health. 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.

After its successful 2025 edition, to celebrate World Food Safety Day 2026, the EU Food Safety Platform is launching 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 call for contributions to be featured during the week 1–7 June 2026 is now open!
EU Food Safety Platform members are 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.
Please submit your contribution by 17 April 2026 via this FORM to join the celebration of World Food Safety Day 2026.

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

Safe Food, Smart Future: European Innovations for Tackling Emerging Risks

The EU‑funded HOLiFOOD and FoodSafeR projects will host their joint final conference, “Safe Food, Smart Future: European Innovations for Tackling Emerging Risks”, on 10–11 June 2026 at the Omnia Building, Wageningen University & Research, in the Netherlands.

This two‑day event will bring together leading scientists, risk assessors, policymakers, industry representatives, and young researchers to explore how Europe can better anticipate and manage emerging food safety risks in increasingly complex food systems. Participants will delve into cutting‑edge topics including:

  • AI‑based and data‑driven prediction of emerging hazards
  • Multi‑stakeholder co‑design of new food safety tools
  • A digital hub providing guidance on emerging risks
  • Food safety challenges in novel or low‑regulated production systems
  • Advanced analytical and detection methods for chemical and microbiological hazards
  • Holistic risk assessment approaches for resilient food safety management

The programme features keynote lectures, thematic scientific sessions, poster presentations, and short talks by early‑career scientists—offering a comprehensive view of Europe’s latest innovations for a safer, more resilient agrifood system.

The event is open to researchers, food safety professionals, policymakers, industry stakeholders and students.


The 16th Rapid Methods Europe (RME) conference, RME2026, will take place from 8-10 June 2026 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, chaired by Dr. Aart van Amerongen from BioSensing & Diagnostics at Wageningen University & Research.

This edition emphasizes technologies over sectors, uniting experts in agri-food, plant science, water/environment, human/animal health, and forensics for cross-disciplinary innovation.
With sessions on food/feed, plant, water, health (environment), and human/animal topics, the event advances rapid diagnostics crucial for EU food safety and One Health approaches. Key areas for detecting pathogens, contaminants, allergens, and antimicrobial resistance include:

  • (bio)sensors
  • DNA/RNA methods
  • paper-based tests
  • microfluidics
  • spectrometry

RME2026 aims to foster academia-industry ties, share breakthroughs from lab to on-site use, and spark new applications through knowledge exchange, through plenary lectures, parallel sessions, posters, workshops, vendor demos, and an exhibition.
For details and registration, visit https://www.rapidmethods.eu.

The event is open to researchers, food safety professionals, policymakers, industry stakeholders and students.


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/


The Future of Food Safety in Europe: Update of regulatory framework and research needs about novel foods

The PROTWIN and Excel4Pro EU projects are hosting a free webinar on 31 March 2026 (09:00–10:00 CET) exploring updates to the European food safety regulatory framework, with a focus on novel foods and future research needs. Speakers include Dr. Veronica Lattanzio discussing regulatory updates and research gaps, and Dr. Betul Vazgeceron Codex’s role in novel food safety and trust-building.

The online Zoom event is open to all stakeholders interested in advancing safe, innovative plant-based proteins and sustainable food systems.


Registration link: https://event.au.dk/events/the-future-of-food-safety-in-europe
Zoom link: https://aarhusuniversity.zoom.us/j/64056121458

Bridging Science, Policy, and Society in Food Systems

The FutureFoodS Partnership hosts Webinar 2 on the science-policy-society interface (SPSI) in food policy, focusing on institutional and territorial coherence through national case studies. The session will explore practical implications of science-policy interfaces (SPI) via cases from Italy, Denmark, and Belgium (Flanders), highlighting multi-actor approaches and networking for food system transitions. Discussions differentiate SPSI from SPI, emphasizing scientific integrity’s role.

Case studies:

  • Italy: Transdisciplinary, multi-actor policy to bridge gaps in food policies.
  • Denmark: SPI supporting the Food Agency’s shift to plant-based diets.
  • Flanders, Belgium: Networking via policy-science-society for food transitions.

Guided breakout brainstorming addresses enablers/hindrances in scientist-policymaker dialogue, good SPSI practices, and their generalizability across contexts. Insights will shape final guidelines in Webinar 3 on 22 April.

Registration available via the FutureFoodS Partnership platform 

From metabolism to health-promoting effects

The Purple4Life Horizon Europe project and the COST Action PURPLEGAIN will jointly host a high‑level workshop on 19–20 March 2026 in Mons, Belgium, bringing together researchers, industry stakeholders, technology developers and innovators working with purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB).

This interdisciplinary event—the 10th PurpleGain Workshop—focuses on advancing PPB‑based solutions for sustainable food and feed systems. Participation is open to PhD students, post‑doctoral researchers, academics, start‑ups, entrepreneurs, and developers interested in PPB technologies, from metabolism and process optimisation to applications in aquaculture, livestock nutrition, functional ingredients, and regulatory aspects.
Mari Eskola (MEDFILES) and Christoph von Holst (ex JRC) – members of the EU FOOD SAFETY PLATFORM – will contribute to hte workshop by discussing respectively on the “Road map to the novel food” and “The analytics in the regulatory dossier preparation“.

The workshop will offer the stage to contributions covering innovations such as PPB metabolism, productivity improvements, PPB‑derived feed and functional ingredients, and strategies to enhance nutritional quality and sustainability in food and feed applications.

This event represents a key opportunity for the food safety and bioeconomy communities to explore how PPB can contribute to safe, sustainable, and circular agrifood chains, aligning with emerging EU priorities on resource recovery and innovative bio‑based ingredients.
For more details visit the workshop website