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ArticleJournal articleMaking food systems more resilient to food safety risks by including artificial intelligence, big data, and internet of things into food safety early warning and emerging risk identification tools 2024
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No results found.To enhance the resilience of food systems to food safety risks, it is vitally important for national authorities and international organizations to be able to identify early signals of emerging food safety risks and to provide early warning in a timely manner. This review provides an overview of existing and experimental applications of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and internet of things tools and methods as part of early warning and emerging risk identification in the food safety domain. There is an ongoing rapid development of systems fed by numerous, real-time, and diverse data with the aim of early warning and identification of emerging food safety risks. The suitability of big data and AI to support such systems is illustrated by two cases in which climate change drives the emergence of risks, namely, harmful algal blooms affecting seafood and fungal growth and mycotoxin formation in crops. Automation and machine learning are crucial for the development of future real-time food safety risk early warning systems. Although these developments and tools increase the feasibility and effectiveness of prospective early warning and emerging risk identification, their implementation may prove challenging, particularly for low- and middle-income countries due to low connectivity and data availability. It is advocated to overcome these challenges by improving the capability and capacity of national authorities, as well as by enhancing their collaboration with the private sector and international organizations. -
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Book (series)Technical reportFAO technical meeting on the gut microbiome in food safety chemical risk assessment
Rome, 12–14 December 2023, meeting report
2024Also available in:
No results found.The FAO Technical Meeting on the Gut Microbiome in Food Safety Chemical Risk Assessment was held in Rome on 12–14 December 2023. A multidisciplinary group of 17 participants attended the Meeting: 11 experts and 1 resource person – risk assessors and microbiome ecologist experts – and 5 FAO team members. The objective was to explore challenges and needs for applying microbiome data in future chemical risk assessment. The meeting resulted in the identification of a series of steps required to facilitate further considerations and integration of microbiome data into the risk assessment of regulated substances.The initial discussions led to the identification of current challenges limiting the current usability of available microbiome data for risk assessment purposes. These included the need for definitions, improved and fit-for-purpose study designs based on realistic exposure scenarios, suitable and predictable biomarkers and endpoints, a better understanding of microbiome-chemical and microbiome-host interactions, support for interpreting microbiome study results, and linking those to adverse effects. Discussions evolved to address technical questions related to microbiome science, specifically in sampling, models, and omics technologies, and to consider new developments with more significant and relevant potential to improve the field. The experts identified the advantages, shortcomings, and potential improvements of various methodological approaches, models, and omics methods. They also highlighted the methods most suitable for addressing specific research questions related to chemical exposure, such as interactions between chemicals and the microbiome and related adverse health effects. However, there is a critical need for guidelines covering several research aspects, including the reporting of findings. Additionally, the meeting highlighted the need for international standardization and harmonization of different aspects of microbiome methodologies.The experts also identified several critical aspects where the inadequacy of available data currently hampers the systematic inclusion of microbiome data in the risk assessment of regulated substances. These inadequacies can be roughly grouped into three categories, i.e. definitions, research needs, standardization and standard harmonization. This initial brainstorming meeting paved the way for follow-up meetings to address these categories which will likely require the involvement of a broader group of experts and disciplines.
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Book (stand-alone)Technical bookThe future of food and agriculture - Trends and challenges 2017
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No results found.What will be needed to realize the vision of a world free from hunger and malnutrition? After shedding light on the nature of the challenges that agriculture and food systems are facing now and throughout the 21st century, the study provides insights into what is at stake and what needs to be done. “Business as usual” is not an option. Major transformations in agricultural systems, rural economies, and natural resources management are necessary. The present study was undertaken for the quadrennial review of FAO’s strategic framework and for the preparation of the Organization Medium-Term plan 2018-2021. -
BookletHigh-profileFAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 2022The FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 was endorsed by FAO Council in June 2022. This new strategy replaces the previous strategy from 2017 to better FAO's climate action with the Strategic Framework 2022-2031, and other FAO strategies that have been developed since then. The Strategy was elaborated following an inclusive process of consultation with FAO Members, FAO staff from headquarters and decentralized offices, as well as external partners. It articulates FAO's vision for agrifood systems by 2050, around three main pillars of action: at global and regional level, at country level, and at local level. The Strategy also encourages key guiding principles for action, such as science and innovation, inclusiveness, partnerships, and access to finance.
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Book (series)FlagshipThe State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all
2021In recent years, several major drivers have put the world off track to ending world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. The challenges have grown with the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures. This report presents the first global assessment of food insecurity and malnutrition for 2020 and offers some indication of what hunger might look like by 2030 in a scenario further complicated by the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes new estimates of the cost and affordability of healthy diets, which provide an important link between the food security and nutrition indicators and the analysis of their trends. Altogether, the report highlights the need for a deeper reflection on how to better address the global food security and nutrition situation.To understand how hunger and malnutrition have reached these critical levels, this report draws on the analyses of the past four editions, which have produced a vast, evidence-based body of knowledge of the major drivers behind the recent changes in food security and nutrition. These drivers, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, include conflicts, climate variability and extremes, and economic slowdowns and downturns – all exacerbated by the underlying causes of poverty and very high and persistent levels of inequality. In addition, millions of people around the world suffer from food insecurity and different forms of malnutrition because they cannot afford the cost of healthy diets. From a synthesized understanding of this knowledge, updates and additional analyses are generated to create a holistic view of the combined effects of these drivers, both on each other and on food systems, and how they negatively affect food security and nutrition around the world.In turn, the evidence informs an in-depth look at how to move from silo solutions to integrated food systems solutions. In this regard, the report proposes transformative pathways that specifically address the challenges posed by the major drivers, also highlighting the types of policy and investment portfolios required to transform food systems for food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets for all. The report observes that, while the pandemic has caused major setbacks, there is much to be learned from the vulnerabilities and inequalities it has laid bare. If taken to heart, these new insights and wisdom can help get the world back on track towards the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms.