Hit enter to search

The Global Food Safety Conference is the annual rendezvous for food safety professionals. Delegates have the opportunity to hear talks from leaders in the food industry, learn, network and swap stories and best practices. And the action-packed conference week is more than a series of expert talks. There’s so much more: inspirational breakfast sessions, breakout sessions, tech talks and the chance to experience the culture and history of Japan with our discovery tours.

GFSC Testimonials

So that you can plan your perfect conference week, we’ve put together details of all the exciting activities that will take place outside the auditorium.

In a hurry?

Jump to Networking Opportunities
Jump to Breakout Sessions
Jump to Special Sessions
Jump to Tech Talks
Jump to Discovery Tours
Jump to There’s More
Jump to Registration

Networking Opportunities

With over 1,000 conference attendees, delegates are presented with fantastic networking opportunities. The conference has dedicated networking breaks, presenting ideal time outside of the conference sessions to exchange ideas and discuss business with peers from around the world.

During these networking breaks delegates will also have the chance to mingle with the GFSI community. You’ll find friendly faces, old and new and have the chance to learn about new and innovative food safety solutions in our sold-out exhibition hall. This networking potential is a huge benefit to attendees and a great opportunity to do business. Our conference app will be opening shortly to all registered delegates and will help you make the most of your time onsite!

Breakout Sessions

Breakout Sessions at the GFSC provide the chance for delegates to delve further into the hot topics affecting the food industry right now. Delegates can listen to real life case studies – success stories and lessons learned – and learn from a practical, hands on approach from those at the forefront of food safety.

The Breakout Session topics this year include practical application detail on what really makes a successful culture of food safety, and what Big Data tools can be leveraged in the food industry. Big Data can help improve customer engagement and the security of the food chain, both essential for food businesses. Delegates can learn how to limit future risks and expand their ROI using the data they own or share.

There will also be a Breakout Session covering the challenges, and successes, of food fraud mitigation. Delegates will hear from global experts on specific food fraud incidents, how to create innovative responses to food fraud and how to reduce fraud opportunity. Other Breakout Session topics include:

  • Aquaculture & Seafood
  • The Changing Role of the Regulator
  • Food Safety Culture
  • Global Markets Programme and Capacity Building
  • Food Service
  • Primary Production
  • Auditor Competency

Our Breakout Sessions are a great illustration of how committed GFSI is to knowledge and best practice sharing. These speakers taking the stage to share their stories are testimony to how food safety is a collaborative, and non-competitive, topic.

Special Sessions

The GFSC Special Sessions provide more opportunity to network with colleagues, industry experts and global leaders in food safety. Delegates can expect to hear about industry hot topics, the future of food safety and what challenges the future brings.

Start your day by diving into hot topics at the cutting edge of food safety including:

  • The rise and impact of blockchain platform ecosystems
  • Unlocking growth in the dairy industry
  • Food traceability on smart labels
  • How technology, innovation and big data are transforming food safety
  • How technology is impacting operational efficiency and food safety culture
  • Digital transformation in the food chain
  • Defending the food supply chain

Tech Talks

Found at the heart of the networking area of the conference, our Tech Talks give a practical insight into the most up-to-date food safety technology. Delegates will gain insight into the future of food safety in a more relaxed environment, with coffee and snacks as an added bonus!

Discovery Tours

Discovery Tours are back again this year and give delegates the chance to experience the culture and traditions of Tokyo. We have three bespoke Discovery Tours to choose from, each one carefully designed to showcase the best of Japanese food, culture and innovation.

Choose one of the following tours as part of your conference registration:

  • The 300 Years of Food and Beverage Tour takes visitors on a journey from an ultra modern egg factory to Tokyo’s oldest sake brewery. Delegates can partake in sake tasting whilst they enjoy the beautiful views of the garden at the 300 year old Sawanoi sake brewery. There’s also a chance to visit a beer brewery, brewing since the 1960s, to finish off the day.
  • From savoury seasoning to brewing beer, you’ll get an insight into the ever-evolving Japanese palate on the All About Taste Tour. You’ll also visit a wholesaler who is bringing American flavours to Japan. Visitors can taste various beers during an exciting brewery tour and then experience the smoked bonito seasoning that is ubiquitous in Japanese dishes.
  • The Farm to Fork Tour offers a chance to visit key Japanese food transportation and logistics premises, B2B supermarkets and countless food stores. This tour finishes at FoodEx Japan, the largest exhibition of the Japanese food industry.

Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited on each of these tours.

And There’s More!

This year’s conference will be even more action packed than before. The third instance of Government to Government (G2G) and Government to Business meetings will be taking place adjacent to the conference. This is an opportunity for industry leaders and government food safety officials to review emerging food safety issues and discuss public-private partnership opportunities.

There’s also the CPO meeting, a important gathering of our Certification Programme Owners. These meetings form a critical step in implementing continuous improvements in food safety around the world.

And at the end of the conference, not everyone goes straight home! The Technical Working Groups and Local Groups meet after the final plenary for a day and a half. The aim is to advance technical food safety issues and implement GFSI global strategy on a local level. The six GFSI Local Groups across the Americas, Europe and Asia will all be represented at this year’s conference. Delegates can witness these global and local groups discussing their work during the conference by stopping by the GFSI Lounge.

Translate »