Catalysing scientific innovation into food safety action

Food safety is a critical issue across the food chain, negatively impacting food production and consumers. Collaboration among stakeholders, startups and authorities is essential in addressing and overcoming this challenge. The EU-funded CATALYSE project aims to establish a network for innovation in food safety to create an expandable, sustainable and equitable community connecting stakeholders from farm to fork. It will serve as a platform where actors in the food chain – regulators, academia, industries, non-governmental organisations – can converge, bridging the existing gap. The network will identify needs and opportunities, fostering tailor-made, co-created innovations. CATALYSE emphasises the importance of an interconnected system and high-quality, accessible information through data collection, education, training and support. Moreover, it will provide the link between food safety management and innovation.

Objective
The CATALYSE project will create a network of food safety actors with the aim to support adoption of knowledge and innovative solutions along the value chain. The network will foster collaboration and food safety knowledge sharing in a model that COLLECTS and then TRANSLATES knowledge and practices across our community through active EDUCATION and FACILITATION. The project aims to bridge the gap between end users, innovators, practitioners, trainers, and regulators by facilitating communication among these parties while matching practical needs with innovative solutions. During network activities we will set priorities for future work, provide food safety education and training, and support food business start-ups and SMEs. Data on inventions and practices related to food safety will be made available on an open access platform to support broad communication. Education and facilitation will be cornerstone activities to support innovation and change management to ensure the successful implementation of newly designed solutions and adoption by member states food safety authorities. CATALYSE will establish a community of practice to connect stakeholders from the complete value chain and promote cross-fertilization of ideas to create a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable community.