PROGRAM - 9th International Symposium on RECENT ADVANCES IN FOOD ANALYSIS (RAFA)

Significance of the Topic

Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA) brings together experts to address ever-growing demands for food safety, authenticity and quality in global supply chains. Cutting-edge analytical methods—spanning chromatography, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, chemometrics and biosensors—are vital to detect contaminants, verify ingredients and support regulatory compliance. RAFA provides a forum to share validated protocols, emerging technologies and collaborative frameworks that enhance consumer protection and industry trust.

Objectives and Overview of RAFA 2019

RAFA 2019, held in Prague on November 5–8, united academics, industry practitioners and regulators to:

• Survey state-of-the-art analytical platforms for food contaminants (mycotoxins, pesticides, processing by-products, environmental pollutants).
• Explore advances in food authenticity, fraud detection and origin tracing using isotopic, spectroscopic and non-targeted screening techniques.
• Highlight novel sensors and portable devices for on-site quality monitoring and citizen science initiatives.
• Discuss human biomonitoring approaches to assess dietary exposure to chemical hazards.
• Foster cooperation between European and Chinese reference laboratories, research infrastructures and innovation networks.

Methodology and Program Structure

RAFA 2019 combined:

• Keynote and plenary lectures to identify emerging challenges in food integrity, cannabis analysis and exposome research.
• Workshops on vibrational spectroscopy, chemometrics, horizon scanning for reference labs, and H2020/EIT Food funding opportunities.
• Parallel oral sessions addressing natural toxins, allergen detection, authenticity, industrial challenges, human biomonitoring and circularity in food systems.
• Vendor seminars and smart-lab demonstrations showcasing automated sample preparation, ambient MS, portable spectrometers and blockchain data platforms.
• Poster sessions covering over 200 studies in areas including omics, nanomaterials, sensory analysis and migratory migrants from food contact materials.
• Special EU-China SAFE and METROFOOD-RI events to strengthen international partnerships and metrology in food and nutrition.

Main Highlights and Discussion

Key scientific advances presented included:

• High-resolution mass spectrometry workflows for non-targeted detection of novel contaminants and authentication markers.
• Implementation of miniaturized, handheld spectroscopic and electrochemical sensors for rapid fraud screening.
• Integrated omics approaches to link food composition with human health outcomes and exposome assessment.
• Automated, on-line cleanup and SPE techniques that reduce analysis time for pesticide and veterinary drug residues.
• Collaborative proficiency testing outcomes from EU reference labs for dioxins, marine toxins, mycotoxins and pesticide residues.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Participants gained:

• Actionable protocols for method validation, quality assurance and uncertainty assessment in food labs.
• Guidance on leveraging H2020 and EIT Food support to develop innovative analytical solutions.
• Hands-on experience with smart lab platforms, smartphone-based assays and ambient MS for in situ testing.
• Networking opportunities to establish cross-border research and training initiatives (EU-China SAFE, METROFOOD-RI).

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions include:

• Expansion of citizen science and portable diagnostics for farm-to-fork monitoring.
• Broader application of ion mobility and HRMS for comprehensive food fingerprinting.
• Integration of blockchain and digital data platforms to ensure traceability and interoperability.
• Adoption of green, solvent-free extraction and sample-minimizing approaches.
• Strengthening human biomonitoring frameworks to quantify dietary exposure and risk.

Conclusion

RAFA 2019 underscored the critical role of multidisciplinary analytical chemistry in safeguarding food quality, authenticity and safety. By uniting advanced instrumentation, robust workflows and international collaboration, the conference charted a roadmap for next-generation food analysis that meets regulatory, industrial and consumer needs.

References

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