Holistic Approach
In the context of food systems, a driver is an “issue shaping the development of a society, organisation, industry, research area, technology, etc.”, which can be classified into social, technological, economic, environmental and technological (STEEP) categories. They may act as modifiers of effect on the onset of emerging risks, namely they can either amplify or attenuate.
Emerging consumer practices, transition to sustainable food systems, climate change effects, agri-food innovation and population growth are all drivers that require holistic risk assessment (that recognises the complexity of their effects on food systems) to foster solutions that maximise co-benefits for environment, health, society and economy.
HOLiFOOD will apply AI and big data analytics to develop a systems approach that consider the complexity of the environment in which food is being produced. Such an approach will enable the early identification of upcoming known and unknown hazards to human, animal and environmental health along the different selected supply chains (Figure 1) and improve the Food Safety Risk Analysis framework in Europe.
For all activities, codesign and citizen science approaches will ensure that all stakeholders benefit from improved food safety, especially consumers in vulnerable groups, small businesses and cooperatives within local supply chains.
These innovations will be designed and tested using a multi-actor approach with all stakeholders and their representatives (e.g., authorities, food producers and citizens) – learn more about the methodology by clicking here.
Additionally, HOLiFOOD will implement a multi-actor codesign approach, using Living Lab (LL) methodology to ensure stakeholders needs and requirements are considered at all stages of the project.
A system approach using Artificial Intelligence connecting all factors impacting food safety along the whole supply chain will be developed to predict known and new food safety hazards and risks (biological and chemical) to occur at any place in the supply chain allowing timely mitigation actions. On-site, on-line detection methods for new and emerging hazards will be developed and, together with the prediction models they allow early detection and monitoring.
