Emerging Technologies: Implications for Food Safety Regulation and Global Food Systems and consumers

第四次工业革命是当前和发展中的环境，颠覆性技术正在改变我们的生活和工作方式，其特征是数字，物理和生物技术的融合。这些技术正在影响社会、经济和个人，导致全球转型，其规模、速度和范围都很大。第四次工业革命技术有可能帮助彻底改变粮食系统，极大地改变需求形态，改善价值链联系，创造更有效的生产系统。然而，与此同时，它们也可能带来新的挑战和威胁-引起对公共卫生和食品安全、弱势群体（老年人、低收入群体、免疫功能低下者等）、在FSA寻求实现食品企业监管方式现代化的同时，FSA需要更好地了解新兴技术和不断发展的全球食品体系对其监管部门的潜在影响，以建立一个现代化、基于风险、相称、稳健和有弹性的体系。此外，FSA还需要了解这种不断变化的技术对消费者的影响。包括;了解消费者对新技术和新兴技术风险的看法，以及新兴技术如何影响消费者与全球粮食系统的联系（或缺乏联系）。一个合作研究项目，探索新兴的第四次工业革命（FIR）技术和全球食品系统;同时评估对不断发展的英国市场和包括弱势群体在内的消费者的影响。研究的总体目标是：了解新兴FIR技术的复杂性和动态，如物联网（IoT），机器人技术，虚拟现实（VR）和人工智能（AI）;以及如何通过水平扫描透镜（经济、环境、政治、社会、法律的）这对英国和全球食品系统和市场的影响。前瞻性评估FIR技术对英国/全球食品行业的潜在影响;以及这在食品安全监管背景下的影响，即识别可能出现的风险（公共卫生/食品获取等）以及机会（更聪明、更有针对性和更相称的监管方式等）。了解FIR技术可能对消费者在选择、访问、偏好、生活质量和生活水平方面产生的影响。还有FIR技术如何影响消费者与食品系统的联系，例如，方便是否意味着减少联系？此外，更好地了解消费者对这些新技术和新兴技术的风险的看法，确定破坏性FIR技术可能的赢家和输家，即受影响的群体和部门，如弱势群体、中小企业、新兴部门等。

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is the current and developing environment in which disruptive technologies are changing the way we live and work, characterised by the convergence of digital, physical, and biological technologies. These technologies are influencing societies, economies and individuals; resulting in a global transformation, which is significant in terms of its size, speed, and scope. Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies have the potential to help revolutionize food systems, dramatically changing the shape of demand, improving value-chain linkages and creating more effective production systems. At the same time, however, they are likely to introduce new challenges and threats - raising concerns pertaining to public health and food safety, vulnerable groups (elderly, low income groups, immuno-compromised etc.), labour markets, and geopolitical security as well as social value systems and ethical frameworks.As the FSA looks to modernise the way food businesses are regulated, the FSA needs to better understand the potential impact of emerging technologies and evolving global food systems on the sectors it regulates if it is to develop a system that is modern, risk-based, proportionate, robust and resilient. In addition, the FSA will need to understand how this changing technology impacts on consumers. Including; understanding consumers' perception of risk from new and emerging technologies and how emerging technologies impact on consumers' connection (or lack of connection) to the global food system. A collaborative research project exploring emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR) technologies and global food systems; while assessing the implications for evolving UK markets and for consumers including vulnerable groups. The overarching aims of the research are:To understand the complexities and dynamics of emerging FIR technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI); and how, through a horizon scanning lens (economic, environmental, political, social, legal) this impacts on UK and global food systems and markets.Forward looking assessment of the potential impact FIR technologies would have on the UK/ global food sector; and the implications this would have in a food safety regulatory context i.e. identifying probable emerging risks (public health/ food access etc.) as well as opportunities (smarter more targeted and proportionate ways of regulation etc.).To understand the impact FIR technologies is likely to have on consumers in terms of choice, access, preferences, quality of life, and standard of living. Also how FIR technologies affect consumer's connection to the food system, for example does convenience mean decreased connection? In addition a better understanding of consumer's perception of the risk from these new and emerging technologies.Identifying likely winners and losers owed to disruptive FIR technologies i.e. groups and sectors affected such as vulnerable groups, SMEs, emerging sectors etc.