Journal of Food Processing & Technology

EU food safety in 2050 â?? Future challenges and policy preparedness

International Conference on Food Safety and Regulatory Measures

August 17-19, 2015 Birmingham, UK

Kalliopi Mylona1, Anne-Katrin Bock2, Petros Maragkoudakis3, Sandra Caldeira3, Jan Wollgast3 and Franz Ulberth1

1Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Belgium 2Foresight and Behavioural Insights Unit, Belgium 3Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Belgium Joint Research Centre, Belgium

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

The central objective of the EU food policy and legislative framework is the provision of safe, nutritious, high quality and affordable food to Europeâ??s citizens and consumers. A series of challenges (climate change, resource scarcity, technological developments, demographic and societal aspects, global economy and trade) to the food chain system could put the current legislative framework under significant stress and it may be necessary to take measures in order to ensure its future resilience. After a first study that identified certain challenges within the context of nine scenarios and gave first indications towards impacted food safety and nutrition policy areas, the Directorate General Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) commissioned the further consolidation of these scenarios and assessment of their impacts to the JRC. The JRC study aims to identify critical challenges to the food system, assess whether the current policy framework may deal successfully with these and identify appropriate policy responses towards a future resilient EU food regulatory framework. Using foresight, a medium-to-long-term vision-building process that engages stakeholders and experts in a systematic and creative process, we aim for a joint vision of the possible and probable futures and definition of actions to be taken today. In a first workshop with invited experts and stakeholders, we consolidated the previous scenarios into four holistic scenarios, descriptive of the food chain system towards 2050 and identified challenges in each scenario. In a second workshop, suitable policy preparedness options will be sought in order to ensure a resilient future legislative framework.

Biography :

Kalliopi Mylona works at the Joint Research Centre, the European Commission’s in-house science service as a Scientific/Technical Project Officer. She provides scientifically based policy assessment and recommendations with the aim of ensuring food safety. She completed her PhD on the contamination of cereal grains with mycotoxins and the assessment of relevant control strategies at Cranfield University, while she holds a first degree in chemistry and an MSc in Food Technology and Quality Assurance. She has extensive experience in the implementation of food legislation, working as a consultant and directly in the food industry.

Email: Kalliopi.MYLONA@ec.europa.eu