Muscat: The 7th edition of the Oman International Food Safety and Quality Conference commenced on Monday at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center, bringing together 500 experts from 32 countries who are presenting 26 scientific papers.
The event was officially opened under the patronage of HH Sayyid Dr. Kamil bin Fahd Al Said, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.
In his inaugural address, Dr. Hussein Samah Al Masroori, Director General of the Food Safety and Quality Center at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, emphasized that the ministry, in partnership with relevant government bodies and private sector organizations, is creating a comprehensive framework to strengthen an effective and sustainable food safety system.
"This conference transcends a typical scientific gathering; it serves as a strategic forum where diverse perspectives unite to develop solutions and initiatives aimed at enhancing food safety and quality systems in Oman and the surrounding region," he remarked, noting the involvement of both local and international experts.
Additionally, Prof. Samuel Godefroy, President of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) and CEO of the Global Food Legislation Organisation, highlighted that the conference acts as a worldwide platform for specialists to tackle significant challenges in agricultural and livestock production while investigating technological and scientific advancements to improve food production.
The conference will concentrate on five primary themes: modernizing food safety, quality control and oversight, food fraud and authenticity verification, analytical and regulatory methods for food, risk assessment to inform food regulatory decisions, and sustainable food supply chains.
The three-day event, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources in partnership with both government and private sector stakeholders, saw participation from Dr. Saud Hamoud Al Habsi, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, along with various other ministers, undersecretaries, diplomatic representatives, and high-ranking officials from the ministry.
