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This year’s GFSI Conference theme, “Food Safety – Meeting the Needs of our Evolving World”, underscores the importance of food safety from farm to fork. From food fraud to import and export limitations, challenges at the local, national and international levels have made it more challenging for organizations to ensure food safety throughout the supply chain. According to CDC estimates, 48 million (or 1 in 6) people fall ill due to foodborne illnesses, 128,000 people are hospitalized because of a foodborne illness, and 3,000 people die from a foodborne illness each year. Now more than ever, we need a more resilient, transparent and trusted supply chain that safeguards the health and well-being of consumers worldwide.
Although food safety has always been a priority for business, there’s no denying that the complex food supply chain has created new challenges. These challenges include vulnerability to sudden disasters and labour shortages, which can cause disruptions to the supply chain. Climate change and environmental degradation also pose significant threats to agricultural food production. Moreover, limited raw materials and food perishability further complicate the food supply chain. No single organization can face these complex challenges alone, especially when they vary from region to region. Collaboration is essential to bridging the gap, as working across sectors and industries can maintain the safety and integrity of the food we consume.
In the food industry, collaboration brings together stakeholders such as farmers, suppliers, manufacturers, third-party organizations, regulators and even consumers to work toward a common objective of strengthening food safety by leveraging best practices in areas including regulatory compliance and audit readiness .
Collaborative activities, such as sharing expertise and best practices, can have a significant impact on the development of a safer and more sustainable food supply chain. As the industry evolves and the supply chain becomes increasingly more complex, it is crucial for every link to play a part in finding and utilizing innovative and effective ways of working together. In doing so, we can ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to safe food.
A recent study conducted by NSF called “Five Ways Food Safety Drives Success” surveyed over 1,000 respondents from the agriculture, food processing, food manufacturing, food distribution and retail sectors across the global food supply chain. The study revealed that the top four roadblocks in the supply chain are the lack of visibility, sustainability, compliance and social and ethical issues. 32% of organizations reported a lack of visibility as the biggest challenge. This lack of visibility that many organizations experience when managing their supply chain makes it increasingly difficult to identify opportunities that could improve efficiency and reduce costs. It also limits an organization’s ability to ensure their partners remain compliant – an issue that impacts nearly half of the businesses in Asia, especially South and Southeast Asia (46%). Attending the GFSI Conference? Stop by NSF booth and get your digital complimentary copy of the research.
NSF, as one of the leading global public health and safety organizations, will host a dynamic sponsored panel discussion at this year’s conference on the power of collaboration in advancing food safety across the entire supply chain.
Industry leaders and food safety experts will share their insights and experiences in developing partnerships to address common food safety challenges, discussing:
- Importance of Collaboration
- Shared Responsibility
- Best Practices
- Developing Skills and Building Capacity for the Future
- Regulatory Compliance
- Audit Readiness
From supplier engagement to knowledge-sharing initiatives, from mitigating climate-related risks to navigating the complexities of technology adoption, the panel will explore how collaborative efforts are driving continuous improvement and raising the bar for food safety standards globally. Discover how cross-industry cooperation is essential for meeting the evolving demands of our world and ensuring the safety and integrity of the food we consume.
This panel event will be hosted by Jyoti Bhasin, Managing Director of NSF’s APAC region.
Meet our panelists:
- Chong Nyet Chin, Director of Food Safety & Quality – FairPrice Group
- Samuel Barrett, Global Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager – Yum! Brands
- Yamish Kaul, Director Food Safety & Sanitation – APMEA – Kerry Group
- Yee Wei, Senior Manager, SQA, APAC – Restaurant Brands International
Our special session titled “Bridge the Gap: Building Collaboration across increasingly complex food supply chains” was held on April 10, 2024 | 2:00pm – 2:45pm
NSF, which celebrates 80 years of improving human and planet health this year, was born of the principle that collective action and shared knowledge are vital to advancing public health and safety. This pioneering spirit led to the establishment of the Council of Public Health Consultants in the 1950s, which laid the groundwork for NSF’s first food-related standards, setting the stage for decades of innovation and cooperation in food safety.
To demonstrate NSF’s legacy of collaboration, NSF will convene a dynamic panel at this year’s GFSI conference to discuss the power of collective action in ensuring the integrity of our food supply chain. Together, we can continue to build a safer, more sustainable food system for the future. Visit our dedicated page about the GFSI Conference and learn more.
¹ California Department of Public Health
