The eighth edition of the “Parma Summer School 2024” took place from September 23 to 25, 2024.
This year's topic was 'Shaping the Future of Food Systems: Today’s Applications and Future Perspectives of Artificial Intelligence' and was co-organized by the University of Parma, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the Catholic University del Sacro Cuore of Piacenza. Along with my colleagues from the Agricultural Economics unit - Davide Menozzi and Giulia Andreani – I had the pleasure of being part of the Organizing and Scientific Committee.
This year's summer school gathered worldwide experts from international organizations (e.g., EFSA and FAO), as well as contributors from academia and industry, to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the global food system. The topics included regulation, sustainability, safety, and social and behavioral sciences.
During the first day, experts discussed the general importance of AI in terms of benefits and risks, including the EU's regulatory framework and ethical concerns. The second day focused on sustainability – how AI can contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advancing smart agriculture – and safety, including food toxicology and integrity. On the final day, the discussion covered the AI’s role in identifying misinformation and assisting human fact-checkers, with the aim of increasing public trust in the food system.
Over 200 participants from all over the world joined the event and contributed with their questions in enhancing the interaction and discussion with the speakers.
