Co-Creation Workshop for Establishing the Regional Food Safety Research Network and Innovation Hub

Background

Food safety is crucial for the agrifood transformation in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region due to the rising food demand driven by rapid population growth, expose the region to vulnerabilities in global supply chains. For a range of reasons, consumers in several countries in the region face high exposure to contaminated food and foodborne diseases (FBDs) due to factors like climate change, unsafe water supplies, and limited infrastructure and resources.

Effective food safety management in NENA requires to adopt innovation and science-based approach, including updated food legislation, competent food safety institutions, effective enforcement capabilities, robust monitoring and surveillance programs, reliable data generation mechanism for risk analysis, and reliable conformity assessment services including laboratory system. However, there are still substantial challenges in coordination to access fit-for-purpose academic programs, risk assessment initiatives and data, and insufficient training for agrifood system actors that hinder the region’s capacity to adopt effective risk management to ensure the safety and quality of traded food.

In response to these challenges, and through South-South Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO-RNE) is actively working on the establishment of a Regional Food Safety Research Network and Innovation Hub (RFSRNIH), designed to enhance coordination and knowledge sharing across the region.

The RFSRNIH aims to catalyze the transformation of agrifood systems in NENA region by fostering innovation, building regional capacity, and harmonizing food safety practices. This regional hub will serve as a platform to enable collaboration among governments, private sector organizations, academia, civil society, and international partners. It will drive the development, testing, and scaling of innovative food safety solutions tailored to regional needs while leveraging best practices and technologies.

The co-creation Workshop marks a foundational step in this effort, bringing together regional public sector representatives, researchers, innovation ecosystem actors, innovators, and private sector, providing a space to collectively design the foundational framework, activities, and governance model for the RFSRNIH. This collaborative approach ensures that RFSRNIH will be both locally relevant and regionally and globally connected, capable of addressing the region’s unique food safety challenges while contributing to broader global food security goals.

Through interactive sessions, panel discussions, and research and innovation showcase, the Workshop will facilitate knowledge sharing, partnership building, and the co-design of actionable strategies to guide the development and sustainability of RFSRNIH. It aims to establish a shared vision and roadmap, laying the groundwork for a sustainable and resilient agrifood system that prioritizes the safety and well-being of populations across the NENA region.

Conference Objectives

1. Establish consensus on priority areas for research, capacity building, and technological innovation to address national and regional food safety challenges effectively.
2. Facilitate the collaborative co-design and development of the RFSRNIH’s vision, mission, governance structure, and operational framework; ensuring alignment with national priorities and global best practices.
3. Foster connections among public and private sector organizations, innovation ecosystem actors, academia, and civil society organizations to create a cohesive and inclusive network for food safety innovation in NENA region.
4. Create opportunities for stakeholders to share expertise, success stories, and innovative solutions; fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.
5. Develop a clear and actionable plan to operationalize the RFSRNIH, including timelines, roles, and commitments from key stakeholders.

Expected Outcomes

1. Collaboratively designed vision, mission, and governance structure for the research network and innovation hub, reflecting the needs and aspirations of stakeholders across the NENA region.
2. A prioritized set of actionable research topics and innovation focus areas that address regional food safety gaps and challenges.
3. Initiation of multi-stakeholder working groups, including public, private, and academic sectors, to support the hub’s establishment and long-term sustainability.
4. Practical recommendations for a set of activities including, capacity-building initiatives, SSC exchanges between countries and intra-region, regional data-sharing mechanisms, etc leveraging SSTC.
5. A provisional workplan of the RFSRNIH.

Target audience

This co-creation Workshop is designed to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders with a shared interest in advancing food safety systems across the Near East and North Africa region. Participants and speakers will include:

• Public sector representatives (government agencies and policymakers),
• Research and academic institutions,
• Innovation ecosystem actors (innovation hubs/accelerators/incubators),
• Technology providers (startups, agrifood innovators, high-tech solutions providers),
• Regional and international research and innovation networks and partners (including SSTC networks),
• Arab Economic Integration Department, Economic Affairs Sector, League of Arab States (LAS), and
• Representatives of UN organizations (FAO, WHO, and UNIDO).

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