New food sources and production systems (NFPS) are emerging worldwide, in response to changing agrifood systems, potentially altering the food landscape in the next 5 to 25 years.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Food Safety Foresight Programme conducted a multi-phase foresight exercise to explore potential food safety implications related to the growing NFPS space. Through expert consultations and a structured methodology combining a two-part Delphi survey and mind mapping, the exercise identified 44 emerging innovations across nine clusters expected to develop within the next 25 years.

Actions to be taken

The exercise revealed both opportunities and challenges associated with these innovations, highlighting the need for proactive preparation by food safety authorities and stakeholders to ensure the safe development and implementation of the innovations while protecting public health. Several steps were identified as necessary to achieve this:

• Improve communication about NFPS and related issues;
• Foster technical advancement for food safety assurance;
• Optimize tailored food safety assessments;
• Encourage collaboration between regulators and food industry; and
• Harmonize regulatory requirements and food safety standards.

The findings also highlighted various social, technological, economic, environmental and political issues that need to be considered and addressed for the safe integration of these innovations into food systems. Continuous monitoring and assessment of emerging NFPS issues will be crucial, with further analysis needed on their long-term implications for food safety and public health.

Read more

Mukherjee, K., Trieb, J., Niegowska Conforti, M., Di Martino, M., Fattori, V. & Lipp, M. 2025. Exploring the future landscape of new food sources and production systems – A foresight exercise. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd4981en

Infographic: Forty-four emerging food innovations by 2050  

Website: FAO Food Safety Foresight