Food chain support
Introduction
While a systems approach provides a comprehensive understanding of processes, operations and interactions in the food and agriculture sector, there are instances where focusing on food chains is justified.
Ensuring food safety requires awareness and active participation from everyone involved in the entire food chain. Food safety must be managed proactively rather than reactively. Handling food safety incidents as they arise can lead to health issues, waste, mistrust of food and authorities, and increased costs. Therefore, it is essential to apply preventive principles in the design and implementation of food safety related programmes.
FAO collaborates with governments, public organizations, academia and the private sector to offer guidance on preventive food‑safety management for food chains under different conditions:
- during normal operations when food chain activities are stable and predictable;
- during incidents, emergencies and disasters that disrupt regular operations and present challenges to agrifood system stakeholders.
The recommendations, tools and platforms provided emphasize preventive food safety management for all operations and include aspects of preparedness and response to food safety incidents, emergencies and disasters.
