EU-China-Safe will reduce food fraud and improve food safety through focusing on improving food legislation, food inspection and increasing access to information across both continents. State-of–the-art technologies including a virtual laboratory will create a unique space to share and demonstrate best practice. The use of innovative technologies will result in improved detection of adulteration of food products as well as increased traceability and transparency of global supply chains. Professor Elliott, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Queen’s and project co-ordinator, said: “We are delighted that The Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University will lead this important project, bringing together key stakeholders in the global food system across two of the world’s largest trading markets.”
Working together across China and the EU
Professor Yongning Wu, Chief Scientist from the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, co-ordinator of the Chinese efforts in the project, stated: “The EU-China Safe partnership between our two trading regions is of immense importance to help deliver safe and genuine food to all citizens.
“Working together across China and the EU will enable us to identify where food fraud is happening, address the root causes and thereby enable us to improve food safety standards for all our citizens.” Reported instances of food fraud are on the increase and occur on a global scale, worth an estimated $52 billion globally each year. Food fraud is a global issue demanding a global response. The increasingly complex global food supply network increases the risks of serious food borne illness. Professor Elliott added: “This project will tackle these highly connected issues in a way that will serve to better protect several billion people. There is a pressing need to act internationally in response to emerging threats to food safety and fraud. Working together as a coalition of 33 partners to share knowledge and maximise our technologies will empower the food industry to provide safer, authentic food and will boost consumers’ confidence and ultimately facilitate the expansion of EU-China trade.”
Delivering an Effective, Resilient and Sustainable EU-China Food Safety Partnership has now commenced, find out more here
EU Projects
Our focus in recent times has been to turn scientific excellence into economic impact and deliver results through innovation, in collaboration with the public and private research community and governments.
Innovate UK
Working in collaboration with industry partners enables us to bring our expertise and wealth of scientific research and innovation to the forefront and bring about progress into emerging and enabling technologies in the changing world we live in.
PhDs
Fera works with the Institute for AgriFood and Innovation (IAFRI) to form a targeted PhD training programme to foster emerging talent within this vibrant industry. Through world-leading research activities with industry experts; extensive new solutions, techniques, skills and best practices can be found and utilised effectively within the agrifood sector to achieve ongoing innovation across this diverse industry.
