EFSA needs for scientific excellence and regulatory readiness

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) must keep pace with food system innovation, policy change and systemic pressures, while maintaining robust, faster risk assessment. This paper identifies the scientific needs for EFSA to sustain excellence, and remain regulatorily prepared.

Building on EFSA strategic documents, scientific roadmaps, EU policy developments and lessons from the 2022 ONE Conference, current achievements and unmet needs were synthesised across six interdependent pathways: innovation and competitiveness; methodological and technical advances; sustainability and One Health; preparedness and rapid response; risk communication and social science; and artificial intelligence and data.

Priorities for Europe include fit-for-purpose methods for novel products, advanced materials, emerging evidence streams and multiple-hazard scenarios; greater investment in new approach methodologies, quantitative adverse outcome pathways, omics, exposure science and probabilistic assessment; and structured One Health cooperation on sustainability, surveillance, antimicrobial resistance and climate-related risks. Preparedness can become anticipatory with the support of AI-enabled foresight, predictive modelling and coordinated governance. Social science can inform assessment and communication earlier, using innovation in audience-centred and iteratively tested approaches, supported by AI-enabled segmentation, social listening, consumer-behaviour data, virtual respondents and closer Member State partnerships to deliver timely, tailored and trustworthy communication. Ultimately, a human-led, AI-enabled operating model is essential for transparent, reusable, consistent and trusted regulatory science across Europe.

Scientific excellence and regulatory readiness will depend on sustained R&I in methods, data infrastructure, specialist expertise, capacity building, partnerships and research engagement. Integrating these capabilities will enable faster, more consistent and anticipatory scientific advice while preserving scientific rigour, transparency and public trust across an increasingly complex European food safety system.