Preliminary Pages

Foreword

Agrifood systems span the different dynamic and interlinked stages of agricultural production, processing, distribution, up to the consumption of food, with each step comprising numerous processes, value chains, multiple stakeholders and their interactions. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development flags the need for sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices that provide healthy and affordable diets as well as tackle poverty, protect human rights and restore ecosystems. Food safety is a central part of such a system.

In order to cultivate agrifood systems that are resilient, sustainable and equitable in the face of economic, social, and environmental challenges, there are growing efforts underway to transform agrifood systems to ensure that the rising global population has access to food that is nutritious, safe and affordable.

To make this transformation happen, tools like foresight, which comprises forward-looking approaches, will be needed to identify and navigate the major global drivers, related trends and other issues that may emerge in the future, bringing varying impacts on agrifood systems. This will enable better preparedness and help to put into place appropriate strategies and policies to take advantage of future opportunities and to manage potential risks. Foresight also provides the means of looking at issues holistically, from a multisectoral point of view, which is inherent in a food systems way of thinking.

This publication, which is intended for a broad audience, explores several cross-cutting issues as identified through the FAO food safety foresight programme. Climate change, which is a defining challenge of our times, also has repercussions on food safety that can affect our health and well-being. As the emphasis on sustainability increases, the concept of circular economy is gaining attention in various sectors, including food and agriculture. How the circular economy may bring benefits in addition to potential food safety risks is discussed using, as an example, the recycling of plastics, another key issue of our time. Growing awareness of depletion of natural resources and adverse environmental impacts from food production is propelling the exploration of new sources of food and different ways of producing food, for instance, edible insects, plant-based meat alternatives and cell-based food. Such new foods are receiving increased attention making it important to determine any potential food safety risks while acknowledging the benefits that they might bring. With urbanization growing rapidly, farming within urban spaces to reduce the distance that food travels between farm and table is gaining traction. The food safety considerations of intra-urban farming methods, such as vertical farming, are therefore discussed in this report. To ensure that food safety competent authorities continue to develop and enforce standards, guidelines and policies that keep food supply chains safe, it is important to recognize the need to keep pace with the latest scientific endeavours, from technological innovations to advances in the field of microbiome, both of which are also described in this publication.

Finally, the ongoing drive to assure food security, reduce poverty and malnutrition, avoid food contamination issues and manage foodborne illness outbreaks, protect biodiversity, advocate for sustainably produced food, and address animal welfare concerns will continue to throw up challenges and calls for innovation which promises to shape the way in which we produce and consume food in the decades to come. In order to be prepared for both the opportunities and challenges, we need to be proactive in driving concrete action and truly forward-looking changes as agrifood systems transform to meet the Sustainable Development Goals

Jamie Morrison
Director
Food Systems and Food Safety Division