Application of Nanotechnologies in Food and Agriculture - FAO/WHO Meeting Planned
In areas of agriculture and food production, a number of applications of nanotechnologies are emerging with the capacity to impact both the food industry and consumers (e.g. food processing and packaging, production of agrochemicals and seed). Given the increased global interest in the use of nanotechnology and concerns on the potential food safety implications, FAO and WHO have planned to convene a joint Expert Meeting which aims to identify knowledge gaps including issues on food safety, review current risk assessment procedures, consequently support further food safety research and develop global guidance on adequate and accurate methodologies to assess potential food safety risks that may arise from nanoparticles.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recognized a need for scientific advice on any food safety implications that may arise from the use of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors through its horizon scanning activities.
FAO and WHO are planning the Joint Expert Meeting to take stock of existing and emerging applications of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors. The meeting is planned to be held on 1-5 June 2009, at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy.
Scope
The scope of the Expert Meeting should cover actual and anticipated nanotechnologies applied in the food and agriculture sectors, with particular attention to:
- The application of nanotechnologies in all aspects of the primary production of foods of plant and animal origin;
- The application of nanotechnologies in food processing, packaging and distribution; and
- The use of nano-diagnostic tools1 for detection and monitoring in food and agriculture production.
Nanotechnologies applied in the environment may also be included if there is a potential direct impact on food safety through the environment to food chain.
The Expert Meeting will NOT cover occupational health matters surrounding the use and application of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors, although these issues may be noted for further consideration elsewhere.
A diagram as presented in the Attachment provides ideas on aspects and areas that the Expert Meeting will consider, but does not limit its discussions, which may address whatever is of the food safety relevance, if necessary and appropriate.
Objectives
The overall purpose of the Expert Meeting is to provide member countries with comprehensive information on what is currently known about potential food safety risks, to identify priority areas of work required to better assess these risks and to advise on ways to promote transparent and constructive dialogue among stakeholders.
To this respect, the objectives of the Expert Meeting should be:
- to take stock of actual and anticipated applications of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors;
- to identify potential food safety implications associated with actual and anticipated applications of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors;
- to determine the need for additional tools or metrics and to identify any data requirements and research gaps;
- to consider the application of current risk assessment methodologies to evaluate the safety of nanomaterials used in the food chain;
- to identify priority areas for which scientific advice should be requested from FAO/WHO in accordance with their Joint framework for the provision of scientific advice; and
- to advise on ways and means of fostering transparent and trustful dialogue among all stakeholders.
Expected outputs
The Expert Meeting will:
- provide information on existing and emerging applications of nanotechnologies, which includes what is known about the food safety implications as well as any potential risks including present capacity to assess such risk;
- formulate (or recommend) a medium term plan of further work that may be required to accurately assess those risks; and
- provide an analysis of efforts that have been made in various countries to promote communication among stakeholders and advise on ways and means of facilitating transparent and constructive dialogue.
Source: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)