FAO to host a hybrid seminar on “AI for food safety” on 6 November 2024

A technical seminar on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) for food safety”, slated for 6 November 2024, will be held in Iran Room, FAO headquarters, as well as online, and registration is open now.

This hybrid event aims to explore the current state of a rapidly evolving technology, its benefits and drawbacks. The seminar takes its cue from the literature synthesis that FAO, in collaboration with the Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) is compiling on the practical applications of AI in food safety management.

Responsible use of AI has the potential to play a critical role in various disciplines, including in the area of food safety. Its anticipated applications span bacterial phenotyping, food recall management, inspection aid, the prediction of outreaks, emerging pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. That said, as with many technological developments, there is always a certain level of overhype, leading to inflated claims and misconceptions about what AI can achieve and how.

Drawing on their experience, experts from competent authorities such as the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) of the United States of America, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale (IZS) of Italy will present case studies illustrating through specific examples the innovative use to which AI is put in this field. The seminar will also discuss key considerations for competent authorities who would like to take a stepwise approach in developing AI tools for food safety management.

The event will be streamed via Microsoft Teams and online registration is open to anyone who would like to listen to the discussions. In addition, FAO colleagues who have access to the Iran Room at the headquarters can attend the seminar in-person, with limited seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.

© FAO/Alessia Pierdomenico

Registration link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3882d4b1-b03e-4985-9bd9-35ea12a8879f@163ac468-abb8-44d0-81fd-d9db15e3af96

Waiting list form: https://forms.microsoft.com/e/818BTMwUC6 (for those who were not able to register with the above link)