Impact of Climate Change and Globalisation on Safety of Fresh Produce -

Risk analysis has become the tool of choice to assist making science-based policy decisions by the competent authorities. It consists of three interacting disciplines: risk assessment, risk management and risk communication.

Veg-i-Trade will provide risk assessments as a scientific basis for the development and adoption of food safety standards and for guidance on other food safety measures. Within Veg-i-Trade, risks will be identified by the execution of baseline surveys of microbiological hazards and data collection of chemical hazards in various EU and associated or ICPC countries. Together with the simulation and modeling of the (global) logistic supply chain of fresh produce, the exposure to the hazard by the consumption of vegetables and fruits to the European consumer will be determined. By performing microbiological and chemical risk assessments on known and emerging hazards, the risks for the consumer will be assessed and ranked.
Risk assessment requires various types of information: consumption data, baseline surveillance data, and transmission routes, which will differ all over Europe and especially on a global level. Veg-i-Trade will perform structured harmonized data collection by baseline surveys of chemical and microbiological hazards in fresh produce. The consortium will also invest in the elaboration of sampling schemes and method development (i.e. rapid accessible methods for food analysis) for integrated monitoring and surveillance of both the food and the environment for (emerging) hazards. Further new analytical methodology will be developed by Veg-i-Trade for biological and chemical hazards for use by the competent authorities for their monitoring and surveillance activities.

Several dissemination activities destined to consumers and other stakeholders are foreseen in the framework of this project, e.g. information via the website, leaflets, collaboration at exhibitions, the setting up discussion forums. However special care will be given to the communication of food safety issues in an accessible way: one of the research topics of the project concerns the study of best practices for communication to the consumer. Strengthened and well-channeled dialogue with the public will improve awareness of potential hazards associated with fresh produce and derived food products, putting them in context in terms of acceptable risk whilst also highlighting improved strategies and efforts in place of assuring the safety in the food chain.

Veg-i-Trade forms a unique multidisciplinary network between experts in food science (food microbiology, food chemistry, food technology, food quality management), food industry (SMEs as well as large industrial partners), consumers and representatives of stakeholders from Europe and third party countries including associated countries and ICPC countries. Both scientists in academia and research institutes and employees of food business operators or technology suppliers active in the supply chain of fresh produce will bring their skills together and as such guide scientists in their research in response to the requirements of society, government and industry.

In the scientific community, insights related to the identification, monitoring and control of food safety risks in the fresh supply chain (due to climate change and global trade), integrated risk assessments and analytical methods will be exchanged resulting in the increase of the performance of research departments and the avoidance of ‘double research work’. Identification of knowledge gaps will fuel future research.

The diagnostic tool that will be developed by Veg-i-Trade for performance measurement and identification of bottle necks in horticultural safety management systems (HSMS) as well as the risk-based sampling plans (horticultural assessment schemes) will serve the food business operators including processors, retailers and trade organizations to work on the circle of improvement. Data collection of production, processing and handling practices in fresh produce in several regions of the world may serve as a baseline to help set guidelines of ‘best practice’ in the fresh produce supply chain.
The identification and implementation of control measures, of new (improved) technological methods and tools (e.g. crop production practices, adequate water treatment, logistic models and optimized packaging conditions) will result in the reduction of risks for microbial/chemical hazards in the fresh produce chain.

Veg-i-Trade will increase the critical mass in safety, quality assurance and risk assessment in the agro-food chain of third party countries by providing technical assistance (delivering information, training and education opportunities). The project will initiate a dialogue and better understanding of the variability of the fresh produce chain and consumption patterns in EU countries and third party countries including associated countries and ICPC countries. Veg-i-Trade will contribute to networking and will address the balance between the necessity of compliance of fresh produce with EU food safety demands and sovereignty in the frame of international trade