Experts look to the future for safety of new food production systems
A meeting convened by FAO opened today to explore the trends, impacts and challenges that food safety authorities and food business operators may face in the next 5-15 years as new food sources and food production systems take hold. In particular, the group of about 25 scientists are discussing: plant-based food production, precision fermentation and 3D printing of food.
New food sources and food production systems are growing – the sector also covers foods that are being consumed outside their traditional areas, such as insects and seaweed, as well as established technologies like precision fermentation that is pushed to new frontiers.
“As the term ‘new’ implies, the new food sources and food production systems sector will be subject to constant evolution and development, making it important to proactively take stock of both the opportunities and challenges associated with it,” said Divine Njie, Deputy Director of the FAO Food Systems and Food Safety Division, in welcoming meeting participants.
He explained that one of the key challenges is “the identification of food safety hazards linked to new food sources and food production systems, in order to underpin food safety risk assessments and subsequently guide the development of relevant standards and/or other management measures needed to propel the sector forward.” The timely evaluation of food safety issues will enable products to reach their full potential while protecting consumer health and ensuring fair trade.
FAO gathers relevant information and disseminates sound scientific advice on the food safety aspects of the various areas that fall under new food sources and food production systems.
The Food Safety Foresight Meeting on New Food Sources and Production Systems will run until Friday 17 November and include an exercise on foresight that will map out what is likely to be the global landscape of new food sources in the future. A summary report will be issued soon after the meeting.
Read more about FAO’s Food Safety Foresight Programme
See pictures of the meeting on Flickr
Photo: ©FAO / Alessandra Benedetti