The Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations (FAO) has held two conferences not too long ago chemical substances in water and using foresight in meals security.
The water high quality assembly was organized by FAO and the World Well being Group (WHO). The occasion in Might was attended by 11 specialists from totally different areas. A full report is predicted later this yr however a abstract was not too long ago launched.
The usage of good high quality water at phases from irrigation, animal farming, aquaculture, cleansing and meals processing to consuming water is essential for meals security.
Round economic system polices and processes are selling options resembling closed-loop water reuse and recycling of water from waste sources.
Major hazards
Agrifood water sources can include a variety of contaminants. Whereas important progress has been made in recent times in assessing the microbiological dangers associated to such water, the implications of chemical water high quality and security are much less nicely characterised.
A prioritization train recognized key chemical hazards in water. Contaminants assessed as a excessive precedence primarily based on reported dietary exposures ensuing from agrifood water sources exceeding health-based steering values had been: anatoxin-a and analogues, arsenic, cadmium, cylindrospermopsins, fluoride, lead, microcystins and nodularins, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, radium, saxitoxins, and thallium.
Eleven contaminants had been assessed as a medium precedence and 29 substances had been rated as a low precedence for meals security. Whereas numerous contaminants had been thought of unlikely to enter the meals chain or had inadequate knowledge to guage meals security threat, this will change sooner or later.
Specialists stated many chemical contaminants in agrifood water sources lack meals security threat administration and steering and this hole must be addressed.
Scientists really useful that authorities at a nationwide or regional degree ought to be sure that meals security is roofed when guideline values are established for chemical contaminants in agrifood water sources; develop monitoring methods for these contaminants; and create standardized sampling and testing protocols.
Foresight work
FAO additionally held a Meals Security Foresight Framework Assembly in April. The occasion was attended by 16 specialists from totally different areas representing governments, the non-public sector, worldwide organizations, universities and analysis institutes.
In keeping with FAO, foresight allows the proactive identification of rising meals questions of safety, together with challenges and alternatives, and might help preparedness to assist well timed decision-making.
A doc set for publication later this yr will goal to stipulate the rules for a basic meals security foresight method from which stakeholders can construct on and adapt to fulfill their pursuits, wants, and sources.
Members mentioned how their organizations are utilizing foresight. Strategies embrace horizon scanning, state of affairs constructing and evaluation, sign evaluation, predictive threat assessments, and using knowledge analytics and synthetic intelligence (AI) for early threat identification, alongside handbook data assortment methods.
Advantages embrace the event of extra strong motion plans and the early detection and response to meals security dangers. Foresight informs longer-term decision-making, enhancing preparedness for future points and growing information about uncommon or unknown hazards.
Challenges embrace the dearth of knowledge on rising matters, restricted open entry knowledge, and the problem in processing giant volumes of knowledge. Well timed data gathering stays a problem. Specialists additionally emphasised the necessity to translate findings into related, significant insights tailor-made to particular contexts.
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The Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations (FAO) has held two conferences not too long ago chemical substances in water and using foresight in meals security.
The water high quality assembly was organized by FAO and the World Well being Group (WHO). The occasion in Might was attended by 11 specialists from totally different areas. A full report is predicted later this yr however a abstract was not too long ago launched.
The usage of good high quality water at phases from irrigation, animal farming, aquaculture, cleansing and meals processing to consuming water is essential for meals security.
Round economic system polices and processes are selling options resembling closed-loop water reuse and recycling of water from waste sources.
Major hazards
Agrifood water sources can include a variety of contaminants. Whereas important progress has been made in recent times in assessing the microbiological dangers associated to such water, the implications of chemical water high quality and security are much less nicely characterised.
A prioritization train recognized key chemical hazards in water. Contaminants assessed as a excessive precedence primarily based on reported dietary exposures ensuing from agrifood water sources exceeding health-based steering values had been: anatoxin-a and analogues, arsenic, cadmium, cylindrospermopsins, fluoride, lead, microcystins and nodularins, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, radium, saxitoxins, and thallium.
Eleven contaminants had been assessed as a medium precedence and 29 substances had been rated as a low precedence for meals security. Whereas numerous contaminants had been thought of unlikely to enter the meals chain or had inadequate knowledge to guage meals security threat, this will change sooner or later.
Specialists stated many chemical contaminants in agrifood water sources lack meals security threat administration and steering and this hole must be addressed.
Scientists really useful that authorities at a nationwide or regional degree ought to be sure that meals security is roofed when guideline values are established for chemical contaminants in agrifood water sources; develop monitoring methods for these contaminants; and create standardized sampling and testing protocols.
Foresight work
FAO additionally held a Meals Security Foresight Framework Assembly in April. The occasion was attended by 16 specialists from totally different areas representing governments, the non-public sector, worldwide organizations, universities and analysis institutes.
In keeping with FAO, foresight allows the proactive identification of rising meals questions of safety, together with challenges and alternatives, and might help preparedness to assist well timed decision-making.
A doc set for publication later this yr will goal to stipulate the rules for a basic meals security foresight method from which stakeholders can construct on and adapt to fulfill their pursuits, wants, and sources.
Members mentioned how their organizations are utilizing foresight. Strategies embrace horizon scanning, state of affairs constructing and evaluation, sign evaluation, predictive threat assessments, and using knowledge analytics and synthetic intelligence (AI) for early threat identification, alongside handbook data assortment methods.
Advantages embrace the event of extra strong motion plans and the early detection and response to meals security dangers. Foresight informs longer-term decision-making, enhancing preparedness for future points and growing information about uncommon or unknown hazards.
Challenges embrace the dearth of knowledge on rising matters, restricted open entry knowledge, and the problem in processing giant volumes of knowledge. Well timed data gathering stays a problem. Specialists additionally emphasised the necessity to translate findings into related, significant insights tailor-made to particular contexts.
(To enroll in a free subscription to Meals Security Information, click on right here)
