Food Safety in a Sustainable Production Chain

There are many different views as to what falls within the scope of "sustainability", and what constitutes a "sustainable" food production chain. A sustainable food production chain encompasses all steps from farm to fork, and might be translated as ensuring sufficient and healthy food, at an acceptable price, that is not only determined by the total production cost, but also by all external social and environmental costs. It, thus, encompasses a range of issues, including security of supply, health, affordability, quality, a strong food industry in terms of jobs, and growth, as well as respect for natural resources, biodiversity, animal welfare, water-soil-air quality, etc. When all this is taken into consideration, one must not lose sight of “food safety”. A sustainable production chain, where food safety requirements need to be balanced with broader societal concerns, poses a challenge to regulators/legislators and food operators. Often a risk evaluation is required to obtain an acceptable solution for all parties concerned.

Based on an open dialogue between scientists, food operators, policy makers, surveyors, inspectors of the food chain, consumers, consultants, and representatives of NGOs, an inventory was made of possible bottlenecks or concerns arising when initiatives are taken to increase sustainability in the food chain. This inventory illustrates the area of tension between food security and a sustainable food chain. It offers, at the same time, a listing of potential opportunities and could be a useful information source for further actions that can be taken at various levels.