Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FOODSAFETY4EU (FOODSAFETY4EU - MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PLATFORM FOR FOOD SAFETY IN EUROPE)
Période du rapport: 2021-01-01 au 2022-06-30
The EU evidence-based food safety framework is based on the General Food Law (Regulation (EC) No 178/2002) - the cornerstone of the EU regulatory framework - that covers the entire agri-food sector, having almost the highest food safety standards in the world. However, recent consumer concerns on the transparency of the process of safety assessment of our foods as well as technological developments and innovations have shown that there is a need to reflect on the EU food safety system of the future, which is linked to the larger process of re-framing the entire Food System. The European Commission is strongly committed to driving and accelerating the food system transformation towards increased sustainability through the Farm to Fork strategy, the European Green Deal policy, bioeconomy strategy and the Food 2030 R&I policy for food and nutrition security. Food Safety is at the centre of Food 2030 R&I policy and linked to all its pathways. The challenge of transforming the food system safely towards increased sustainability requires a systemic approach; it should also include the assessment of new technologies while fulfilling EU citizens' concerns and expectations in terms of transparency and trust. In this context, FS4EU is contributing to addressing this societal challenge by reaching its overall objective: to design, develop and release a multi-stakeholder platform and establish a long-term Science-Policy-Society interface, where citizens, scientists, companies, EC, EFSA, and Food Safety Authorities will co-design new schemes to advance the FSS from a reactive system to an interactive one. The overall ambition is to put the basis for a Knowledge Centre for Food Safety in Europe and provide co-created input for policies and strategies (including SRIA).
FS4EU is developing a multi-stakeholder platform that includes digital tools, resources and a structured participatory process from a long-term perspective.
5 DIGITAL TOOLS have been developed to support communication and relationships within the FS4EU platform; the expert finder app was launched to foster interaction. The first design of the platform is ready for further development.
Through the activation of the FOOD SAFETY OPERATIONAL LABS (FSOLabs), the CO-CREATION PROCESSES IN SOCIAL LABS are feeding learning cycles on:
· IMPROVEMENT OF ROADMAPS FOR THE FUTURE FSS – INTEGRATION AND FORECASTING: a net map analysis is completed, surveys conducted at Hub levels, with inputs for the new roadmaps (FSOLab 1);
· DEFINITION OF THE RESEARCH & INNOVATION FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE POLICIES (FSOLab2 and 3): a map and gap analysis of research programmes and funding opportunities in Food Safety including results from experts interviews have been prepared. 2 pilot actions were implemented to set up a) a Food Safety Knowledge Network for the alignment of transnational funding cycles and research priorities; b) a Food Safety Systems alliance for a fast-response Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA) with expected future themes and priorities.
· STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF FOOD SAFETY AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT (FSOLab 4): surveys for different stakeholders were implemented in 2021 and 2 pilot actions involving a national FOOD SAFETY Authority (Raising awareness about food safety and food safety system actors among consumers and civil society in Tunisia) and Industry (Safe Food in a Circular World in Czechia). Storyboards and materials for their implementation have been finalized. A workshop series planned at the Hub level for engagement of the public (1 workshop held in June 2022).
The process of CO-DESIGNing THE PLATFORM STRATEGY AND BUSINESS MODEL FOR LONG-TERM COOPERATION produced the platform concept, the stakeholders’ portrait together with the motivation matrix and transactions boards. The expected core services, value proposition and the first Platform business model canvas are ready.
The concept of the FS4EU Forum as a Science-Policy-Society interface has been shared within the Consortium, while a series of actions for liaisons with institutions and policymakers is ongoing.
Strong action of DISSEMINATION, COMMUNICATION AND EXPLOITATION has been conducted to position the project in the FS scenario, by using combined tools, materials and channels: 1 website, 3 social media campaigns, 4 events, 8 project presentations, 13 FS4EUpdates, glossary, cards. Agreements and synergies to boost the engagement of key players have been set (i.e. DISH cluster with 5 EU-funded projects).
All the activities have been supported by an intensive COORDINATION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT, that ensured the project’s bodies functioning and institutional linkages, as well as the overall compliance of the ETHICS REQUIREMENTS.
5 DIGITAL TOOLS have been developed to support communication and relationships within the FS4EU platform; the expert finder app was launched to foster interaction. The first design of the platform is ready for further development.
Through the activation of the FOOD SAFETY OPERATIONAL LABS (FSOLabs), the CO-CREATION PROCESSES IN SOCIAL LABS are feeding learning cycles on:
· IMPROVEMENT OF ROADMAPS FOR THE FUTURE FSS – INTEGRATION AND FORECASTING: a net map analysis is completed, surveys conducted at Hub levels, with inputs for the new roadmaps (FSOLab 1);
· DEFINITION OF THE RESEARCH & INNOVATION FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE POLICIES (FSOLab2 and 3): a map and gap analysis of research programmes and funding opportunities in Food Safety including results from experts interviews have been prepared. 2 pilot actions were implemented to set up a) a Food Safety Knowledge Network for the alignment of transnational funding cycles and research priorities; b) a Food Safety Systems alliance for a fast-response Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA) with expected future themes and priorities.
· STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF FOOD SAFETY AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT (FSOLab 4): surveys for different stakeholders were implemented in 2021 and 2 pilot actions involving a national FOOD SAFETY Authority (Raising awareness about food safety and food safety system actors among consumers and civil society in Tunisia) and Industry (Safe Food in a Circular World in Czechia). Storyboards and materials for their implementation have been finalized. A workshop series planned at the Hub level for engagement of the public (1 workshop held in June 2022).
The process of CO-DESIGNing THE PLATFORM STRATEGY AND BUSINESS MODEL FOR LONG-TERM COOPERATION produced the platform concept, the stakeholders’ portrait together with the motivation matrix and transactions boards. The expected core services, value proposition and the first Platform business model canvas are ready.
The concept of the FS4EU Forum as a Science-Policy-Society interface has been shared within the Consortium, while a series of actions for liaisons with institutions and policymakers is ongoing.
Strong action of DISSEMINATION, COMMUNICATION AND EXPLOITATION has been conducted to position the project in the FS scenario, by using combined tools, materials and channels: 1 website, 3 social media campaigns, 4 events, 8 project presentations, 13 FS4EUpdates, glossary, cards. Agreements and synergies to boost the engagement of key players have been set (i.e. DISH cluster with 5 EU-funded projects).
All the activities have been supported by an intensive COORDINATION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT, that ensured the project’s bodies functioning and institutional linkages, as well as the overall compliance of the ETHICS REQUIREMENTS.
The project is supporting the European Food Safety System of the future in its transition towards sustainability, by proposing a new approach based on a structured participatory process through a multi-stakeholder platform. The main results – a new Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), roadmaps for the alignment of future research programs, at the national and EU levels, and new communication models to enhance the public confidence through transparency and access to the integrated knowledge, guidelines and digital tools to access food safety resources and knowledge – will contribute to better position and keep the focus on Food Safety in the new framework, which is being defined by the upcoming proposal for a regulation (expected to be adopted by EC in 2023).
At this stage, it’s expected that the European Food Safety Forum with the FS4EU platform will represent a reference point for the entire Food Safety community, and to have an impact on challenges at the policy-society level related to the Food System transformation, by providing :
1. input for new standards and procedures to enforce Food Safety legislation;
2. input for updating the research agendas at the country level;
3. presentation of reports and position papers for EU policies;
4. business model to provide logistic and technical for a permanent structure, and dedicated agreements;
5. new knowledge for further implementation in new projects and/or other initiatives.
FS4EU is contributing to enhancing the awareness of food safety and sustainability, through a massive communication action and messages sustaining the behaviour towards better healthy choices (holistic approach, safe&healthy diets). This will also have an effect on enhancing consumer trust in the transparency of the EU food safety system, thus contributing to the implementation of the new transparency regulation.
Moreover, FS4EU is introducing in the Food Safety System a cooperative platform as a candidate to animate the dialogue in the system in the long term. and a participatory process as an effective methodology tested by a multi-actor approach in different domains, thus supporting the system dynamics and its transformation. The networks created and consolidated across food safety stakeholders groups for collaboration and harmonization (“out of silos”) are expected to set and feed a long-term collaboration based on co-creation. This could have an impact also in pushing a proactive behaviour by the industry, that has been successfully engaged and included in the overall process. Finally, the project is boosting a collective learning process, that includes also the consumer perspective, thus favouring new skills and competencies.
At this stage, it’s expected that the European Food Safety Forum with the FS4EU platform will represent a reference point for the entire Food Safety community, and to have an impact on challenges at the policy-society level related to the Food System transformation, by providing :
1. input for new standards and procedures to enforce Food Safety legislation;
2. input for updating the research agendas at the country level;
3. presentation of reports and position papers for EU policies;
4. business model to provide logistic and technical for a permanent structure, and dedicated agreements;
5. new knowledge for further implementation in new projects and/or other initiatives.
FS4EU is contributing to enhancing the awareness of food safety and sustainability, through a massive communication action and messages sustaining the behaviour towards better healthy choices (holistic approach, safe&healthy diets). This will also have an effect on enhancing consumer trust in the transparency of the EU food safety system, thus contributing to the implementation of the new transparency regulation.
Moreover, FS4EU is introducing in the Food Safety System a cooperative platform as a candidate to animate the dialogue in the system in the long term. and a participatory process as an effective methodology tested by a multi-actor approach in different domains, thus supporting the system dynamics and its transformation. The networks created and consolidated across food safety stakeholders groups for collaboration and harmonization (“out of silos”) are expected to set and feed a long-term collaboration based on co-creation. This could have an impact also in pushing a proactive behaviour by the industry, that has been successfully engaged and included in the overall process. Finally, the project is boosting a collective learning process, that includes also the consumer perspective, thus favouring new skills and competencies.