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，在这种环境中，颠覆性技术正在改变我们的生活和工作方式，其特点是数字、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；导致了一场全球变革，其规模、速度和范围都是巨大的。第四次工业革命技术有可能帮助食品系统发生革命性变化，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，它们可能会带来新的挑战和威胁--引发对公共卫生和食品安全、弱势群体(老年人、低收入群体、免疫受损群体等)、劳动力市场、地缘政治安全以及社会价值体系和道德框架的担忧。随着FSA寻求实现食品企业监管方式的现代化，FSA需要更好地了解新兴技术和不断演变的全球食品体系对其监管行业的潜在影响，如果它要发展一个现代的、基于风险的、相称的、稳健的和有弹性的体系。此外，FSA将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感知，以及新兴技术如何影响消费者与全球食品体系的联系(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)技术和全球食品体系；同时评估对不断发展的英国市场和消费者(包括弱势群体)的影响。这项研究的总体目标是：了解物联网(IoT)、机器人、虚拟现实(VR)和人工智能(AI)等新兴FIR技术的复杂性和动态；以及通过水平扫描透镜(经济、环境、政治、社会、法律)如何影响英国和全球食品体系和市场。前瞻性评估FIR技术将对英国/全球食品行业产生的潜在影响；以及这将在食品安全监管背景下产生的影响，即确定可能的新兴风险(公共卫生/食品准入等)。以及机会(更智能、更有针对性和相称的监管方式等)。了解FIR技术可能在选择、获取、偏好、生活质量和生活水平方面对消费者产生的影响。还有，FIR技术如何影响消费者与食品系统的连接，例如，便利是否意味着连接的减少？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。确定颠覆性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.