Food safety is a keystone of agrifood systems and all food safety actors need to keep pace with the ongoing transformation of agrifood systems towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while preparing to navigate the potential threats, disruptions and challenges that may arise. Foresight in food safety facilitates the proactive identification of drivers and related trends, both within and outside agrifood systems, that have implications for food safety and therefore also for consumer health, national economy and international trade. Early identification and evaluation of drivers and trends promote strategic planning and preparedness to take advantage of emerging opportunities and address challenges in food safety.
In this publication, the FAO food safety foresight programme provides an overview of the major global drivers and trends by describing their food safety implications including climate change, changing consumer behaviour and preferences, new food sources and food production systems, technological advances, microbiome, circular economy, food fraud, among others.
