1. Economics of agro-food safety and international market for agro-food products and legislation
Antonio Stasi

2. INDEX What’s going on? Definition of agro-food safety
Potential Agro-Food related hazards
Why it is concerning now?
Where in the world is more important
Measures of Agro-Food safety and incidence

3. What’s going on? Increasing interests in:
Food toxicology
Microbiology
Sociology/Economics related to food
Heightening of consumers’ concerns
Increasing number of food borne diseases and outbreaks
Destroyed prejudice that food produced in developed countries were safe
Consumers’ awareness that food they purchase is not risk free
Fuelled by media attention and social amplification

4. Definition of Agro-Food Safety
Agro-food safety refers to the potential hazards associate with food that can cause ill-health in humans.
Naturally occurring hazards (e.g. aflatoxins in nuts)
Contamination associated hazards (e.g. pesticide residues in fruit)

5. Potential agro-food related hazards
Microbial pathogens
Salmonella, E. coli…associated with diarrheal diseases
Zoonotic diseases
From animals to humans…tubercolosis and brucellosis
Physical contaminants
Glass, animal faeces
Agro-chemical and veterinary drug residues
Increased the risk of cancer
Prions
Such as the Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)
Heavy Metals
E.g. mercury, causing neurological damages
GMOs (genetically modified organisms)
May contain allergens
……………

6. Why it is concerning NOW?
Increase number of recorded food borne illnesses
Change in eating patterns and handling practices
Enhanced geographic movement of people, animals, plants (Globalized markets)
More concern about developing countries where food borne diseases have high incidence

7. Where in the world is more important?
The concern is worldwide
Perceived importance differs according to:
Economic development
Climatic conditions
Cultural and Social norms
Prevailing infrastructures
Poor sanitation and/or inadequate access to potable water
Developing countries have higher social costs related to improving food quality/safety

8. Measures of food safety and incidence
Usually they refer to the incidence in terms of losses associated with premature mortality and morbidity associated with human diseases, e.g.:
DALYi = YLLi + YLDi
Where:
DALYi = Loss of disability-adjusted life years associated with condition i.
YLLi = Years of life lost associated with condition i.
YLDi = Years lived with disability associated with condition i.

9. Boosting Adult System Education In Agriculture – AGRI BASE
Financed by:
Partners: