FOOD SAFETY FIRST 2026: Identifying and Reducing Contaminants

What will we eat tomorrow? And how can we ensure that new protein sources are not only sustainable, but also safe, nutritious, and trusted by consumers?

These questions will be at the heart of the 3rd edition of FOOD SAFETY FIRST, an international online conference taking place on 13 November 2026, bringing together researchers, food safety experts, agrifood professionals and stakeholders from different disciplines to discuss some of the key challenges shaping the future of food systems.

The event is part of the research and outreach activities promoted by IBA Bucharest, which has been actively engaged in food safety research for more than twenty years. Over previous editions, FOOD SAFETY FIRST has become an important international forum for discussing emerging risks across the agrifood supply chain, fostering dialogue among the scientific community, industry and institutions. The 2026 edition will focus on the challenges associated with alternative proteins and their role in building more sustainable food systems. The growing adoption of novel protein sources represents one of the major drivers of innovation in the food sector, offering significant opportunities in terms of environmental sustainability and supply chain resilience. However, for this transition to succeed, it is essential to ensure high standards of food safety, nutritional quality, transparency, and consumer trust. Risk assessment, the identification of potential contaminants, the quality of scientific data, and compliance with regulatory requirements are all fundamental elements supporting the development and market uptake of novel foods.

The conference aims to promote knowledge exchange and foster interdisciplinary collaborations capable of addressing emerging food safety challenges in a rapidly evolving innovation landscape. The event is open to researchers, food industry professionals, regulatory experts, agrifood stakeholders, and all those interested in the future of food and in the development of safer and more sustainable food systems.

For further information and registration details, please visit the official conference website.