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DUBLIN, 3rd APRIL 2025: Reflecting on a successful Day 3 at the GFSI Conference 2025, we saw future-forward inspiration leading directly to actionable strategies. Here’s a look at the highlights and key takeaways.
Forging a Path Towards a Transparent and Secure Food Supply Chain
Donald Prater of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) painted a powerful picture of a new era in food safety, one where data, artificial intelligence, and whole genome sequencing are changing the game: machine learning doubling the efficiency of predicting risks, allowing us to proactively target potential threats with unprecedented accuracy. This isn’t just about checklists; it’s about equipping ourselves with the tools to “find the needle in the haystack” and connect the dots like never before, ensuring a safer food future for everyone.
With the FDA and GFSI standards demonstrating positive alignment, Don Prather believes it’s time to actively leverage this synergy to further strengthen our global food safety systems through enhanced collaboration and continuous improvement of both regulatory oversight and third-party audits.
“I would encourage certification programme owners, GFSI, to continue to work in this way, because these are some of the sources of data and information that we will use to do our job as regulators.” – Dr. Donald A. PRATER, Principal Associate Commissioner for Human Foods, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The key message from the two future-proofing food safety sessions was clear: stay ahead of the curve! The “Emerging Risks” breakout hammered home the need to tackle threats like antimicrobial resistance head-on, urging everyone to leverage tech and global teamwork and think flexibly about regulations. Meanwhile, the “Allergen Management” session stressed getting serious about risk assessment – think deep science and crystal-clear labelling through practical QRA. Bottom line? It’s time to ramp up your risk strategies and communicate allergen info with absolute clarity to keep consumers safe.
The Power of Stepping Up: From Personal Journeys to Global Impact
Both Julian Cox’s masterclass and Niall Harbison’s keynote underscored the potent connection between personal initiatives and broad scale change, imparting the vital message that significant progress, whether in food safety communication or broader global challenges, often begins with the decision of individuals to step up, take personal action, and share their passion with the world.
Sharing his own journey collaborating with media and charities to amplify crucial food hygiene messages, Julian M. Cox from the University of New South Wales laid down a powerful challenge: it’s on each of us to become effective food safety communicators. His rallying cry? Identify your platform and start sharing simple, life-saving advice today. The message is clear: everyone, everywhere, can make a difference by communicating effectively.
Harbison recounted his own decision to step up during the final plenary ‘From Chef to Canine Crusader: Solving Global Challenges – One Man, One Vision’. His personal commitment to address the plight of malnourished street dogs in Thailand has today evolved into the remarkable Happy Doggo organisation, now caring for thousands of animals annually. Niall Harbison vividly demonstrated how one individual’s personal action and vision can ignite profound change, turning initial acts of kindness into a widespread movement that saves lives.
Day 3 served as a powerful reminder that the collaborative spirit of the GFSI Conference is geared towards real-world impact. The emphasis on clear communication, leveraging narratives for change, and strategic leadership provided a strong foundation for continued progress in the pursuit of safe food for all.
