17th Scientific Conference of the Bulgarian Focal Point of EFSA at the Risk Assessment Center on Food Chain (RACFC), Ministry of Agriculture - “The Power of Science for a Safe Future”

Under the motto “The Power of Science for a Safe Future”, on 15 May another scientific conference was held, organized by the Bulgarian Contact Point of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) at the Centre for Risk Assessment in the Food Chain (CRAF).

The forum brought together leading experts, scientists and representatives of institutions engaged in risk assessment and risk management in order to exchange experience and discuss the latest current challenges and trends in the field of food safety and animal and plant health.

The conference was opened by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Stefan Burdjiev, who noted that “science is precisely the most solid instrument that can serve in the development of policies and the taking of management decisions” and that the present event is an example of “setting the direction in which we should move in order to ensure a safe future and guarantee sustainable agriculture, food security and the safety of the food chain – from farm to fork”.

Welcome addresses were also delivered on behalf of the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Forestry – Sofia – Prof. Krasimira Genova, DVM.

The official guests of the event were:

• Prof. Violeta Bozhanova, President of the Agricultural Academy, who presented information on the latest research and innovations aimed at reducing pesticides;
• Academician Hristo Naidenski from the “Stefan Angelov” Institute of Microbiology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences with the topic “PCR Methodology for the Diagnosis of Current Foodborne Zoonoses”;
• Dr Alessandro Brolia from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) with a presentation on emerging vector-borne diseases and climate change: the example of Rift Valley fever.

The Director of the Centre for Risk Assessment in the Food Chain – Assoc. Prof. Koicho Koev, presented the main aspects of CRAF’s activities, emphasizing that over the past year, in terms of policies on animal and plant health and food safety, the maximum level of benefit/effect has been achieved for the public and the institutions managing risks along the agri-food chain.

Particular interest was aroused by the presentations concerning genetically modified organisms, ultra-processed foods, food supplements and others. As part of the conference, a poster session was also held, in which more than 20 participants took part.