GFSI 2025 Conference concludes with a call for enhanced food safety, transparent food systems
GFSI focuses on benchmarking, harmonisation, capability building, and public-private partnerships.
IRELAND – The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recently concluded its 24th conference in Dublin with industry leaders calling for stronger, more transparent food systems.
This year’s conference, held from April 1st to 3rd, addressed various issues and topics related to food safety. Representatives from 40 countries, 30 exhibitors, and 600+ delegates attended, with MSD Animal Health as the exclusive partner.
GFSI is a Coalition of Action from The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), bringing together food retailers and manufacturers from across the CGF membership and an extended food safety community to oversee third-party food safety standards for food business operators globally.
Its work focuses on benchmarking, harmonisation, capability building, and public-private partnerships. It envisions enabling the industry to build trust safely with consumers and partners along the supply chain.
GFSI has two decades of experience supporting the industry on its food safety journey. It has hosted annual conferences, which have become the meeting place for food industry leaders and decision-makers from across the supply chain and worldwide, where they share knowledge, strengthen their networks, and conduct business.
Several key insights emerged from this year’s three-day conference.
Day one: Trust, innovation, and strategic collaboration
The first day’s discussions revolved around the role of trust and consumer focus, collaboration and stakeholder engagement, the evolving food safety landscape, the promise of organisational innovation and emerging technologies, and strategic priorities and initiatives, with different organisations demonstrating their significance.
Sean Summers, CEO of Pick n Pay, powerfully articulated that food safety is a non-compete area, with the consumer being the ultimate priority.
The role of the “Race to the Top” initiative, one of GFSI’s key strategic priorities, was highlighted by Dirk Van de Put, Chairman and CEO of Mondelēz International, as it is designed to enhance trust by improving audit reliability.
To demonstrate the promise of organisational innovation and emerging technologies, Nestle presented their journey in implementing a digital HACCP system with Veeva Systems to enhance efficiency, reduce errors associated with manual processes, and improve regulatory compliance through a user-friendly technological approach.
Day two: Digital transformation, emerging threats and communication gaps
On day two, Nestle, McCormick & Company, and Mars, Inc. explored the transformative influence of data and digital transformation in food safety practices.
It was noted that digitalisation is not just about converting paper-based systems to digital formats but also about leveraging data connectivity, sensors, and signals to manage food safety and quality proactively.
Throughout the day, new and potential threats, such as antimicrobial resistance, foodborne pathogens, chemical contaminants in paper and plastic food production and packaging, focused on per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), were explored.
Staff turnover, training and cultural challenges, the complexity of digital food safety systems for frontline workers, and supply chain disruptions emerged as “Invisible dangers.”
Effective communication was apparent as a cross-cutting topic, especially regarding conflicting information on social media, sometimes contradicting official advice.
Day three: Driving food safety through individual action
The final day was about future-forward inspiration and actionable strategies, with transparency and security in the food supply chain as the focal point.
Keynote statements from Julian Cox’s masterclass and Niall Harbison underscored the connection between personal initiatives and broad-scale change.
One vital message was that significant progress, whether in food safety communication or broader global challenges, often begins with an individual’s decision to step up, take personal action, and share their passion with the world.
The 2026 edition will take place in Vancouver, Canada, and the exact date will be announced.
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