4.3c Where is testing capability and capacity required to ensure food safety and standards across the food system (e.g., identification of food fraud, control of imports)?
Background
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.
As a modern and accountable regulator the we must innovate and anticipate the impact of changes as well as make the most of new opportunities to regulate more effectively and efficiently. This includes adopting technological advances, digital tools and data analytics. It is also about using social research to gain a greater insight into the behaviour of consumers and the food businesses that supply them, to help ensure effective implementation.
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 opportunities and challenges arising from these novel foods and processes.
The overarching aim of this research priority is to ensure the FSA can remain at the cutting-edge when developing and implementing food regulations, can respond to emerging challenges and opportunities in a timely and effective.
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Related UKRI funded projects
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A holistic frameWork with Anticounterfeit and inTelligence-based technologieS that will assist food chain stakehOlders in rapidly identifying and preveNting the spread of fraudulent practices.
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Why might this be relevant?
The project focuses on detecting and preventing food fraud across the entire food chain, aligning with the need for testing capability and capacity to ensure food safety and standards.
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Why might this be relevant?
The project addresses anticipating food emergencies and assembling the food system, which is related to ensuring food safety and standards, but does not specifically focus on testing capability and capacity.
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Holistic approach for tackling food systems risks in a changing global environment
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Why might this be relevant?
The project tackles food system risks and aims to improve food safety risk analysis, which is related to ensuring food safety and standards, but does not specifically focus on testing capability and capacity.