Africa Food Safety Workshop 2020

Africa as a continent is currently experiencing a globally unparalleled growth trajectory. This growth is both economic and population based, with UN Growth Projections estimating that the African population will double by 2050, to an estimated 2.4 billion people. To sustain a larger population Africa will have to increase its agricultural output in the face of extreme climate change, making the burden of food safety and food security even greater.

Recently there has been a greater demand for agricultural goods within the African market. This is not only due to growing population and economies, but through the growth of alternative markets and active marketing campaigns within Africa. Further growth is anticipated through the African Continental Free Trade (AfCTFA) agreement, and with this an extra dimension to the complexity of unified analytical testing protocols and a well-established quality infrastructure. With the advent of the AfCFTA, the risk to the food supply will be increased through frictionless trade between countries, necessitating the strengthening of regional testing capabilities.

NMISA is mandated under the department of trade and industry’s measurements units and standards Act 18 of 2006, to keep the National Measurement Standards for South Africa and ensure international equivalence of our measurement units. We are committed to supporting trade and industry through the provision of fit-for-purpose Africa-relevant measurements, reference materials and PT schemes to support food safety testing laboratories whose measurements safeguard consumers’ health and fair trade both internationally and within the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTFA).

In 2020, NMISA will be hosting the Africa Food Safety Workshop in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation IAEA Africa Food Safety Network, to promote standards, reliable methods of analysis and interinstitutional cooperation for better food safety controls. The workshop will take place under the theme “Food safety capacity building for greater public health and promoting international trade initiatives” in the form of lecturers, posters and discussions from 6 to 10 July 2020 at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg.

Representatives from national, regional and international institutions in the quality infrastructure, measurement science and food testing fields with prominent industry experts, academia and regulators will be attending the workshop. Participation in the Africa Food Safety Workshop will give your organisation the opportunity to engage with influential scientists and metrologists across the globe and key role players from Africa and the international community.

Click here to register: https://bit.ly/31EhFmw