The 21st Century food system is characterised by its complexity and innovation. The emergence of Covid-19 and the subsequent pandemic put immense strain on the global food system and tested its resilience. It highlighted that, in this interconnected and fast-moving world, we need access to the best data, intelligence and horizon scanning to understand changes in the system, the impact of these, and how they create vulnerabilities.
Global events, new consumer trends, changing business practices, and food innovation can all create new risks and opportunities. In this area, we need research and evidence to understand the potential for disruption in our food system and the impact of change. We need to be able to identify new and emerging food technologies and be prepared for the possible safety and other challenges arising from these novel foods and processes. This includes having an innovative, science-driven risk analysis process in place for regulated products.
Please contact the FSA Science Strategy, Research and Capability Unit at ari@food.gov.uk
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
Demand for food is changing because of population growth, changing diets and increasing affluence. Food production is under increasing pressure as water and other natural resources become scarcer and competition for the ...
Funded by: BBSRC
Lead research organisation: University of Reading
The project addresses the risks and opportunities presented by shifts and disruptions in the food system, but may not answer the question fully.
The overall objective of HOLiFOOD is to improve the integrated food safety risk analysis (RA) framework in Europe to i) meet future challenges arising from Green Deal policy driven transitions in particular in relation t...
Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee
Lead research organisation: QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST
The project is relevant because it aims to improve the integrated food safety risk analysis framework in Europe, which aligns with the question's focus on understanding and regulating shifts and disruptions in the food system.
From animal disease outbreaks, to accidental contamination, food-borne illnesses, and concerns over the provenance or ingredients of foodstuffs, food crises of one form or another are seemingly a regular occurrence. The ...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: Newcastle University
The project explores how those involved in the production, processing, retail, management, and governance of food anticipate future problems and develop plans to avoid them or deal with them, which is relevant to understanding the risks and opportunities in the food system.