Edition overview
In 2023, the city of Querétaro hosted the first edition of the Latin American Food Safety Congress, a meeting that brought together specialists, companies and organizations from Latin America, Europe and North America to share knowledge and experience on the great challenges of food safety.
Over two days, renowned experts addressed topics that reflected the transformation of the industry: the evolution of GFSI, supply chains, new pathogens, regulatory challenges in Latin America, the Codex Alimentarius and incident and crisis management.
The program also paid special attention to topics that would shape the industry's future, such as food safety culture, sustainability, social responsibility, food fraud, new certification schemes and the use of big data for food safety and quality management.
The participation of representatives of organizations and companies from countries such as Mexico, the United States, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Spain gave the Congress a truly international perspective. The program closed with Frank Yiannas, then former FDA Deputy Commissioner.
Beyond the talks, that first meeting created a space to connect professionals from different sectors, exchange experiences and open new conversations about the present and future of food safety.
Querétaro was the starting point of this story. In 2023, a project began that was designed to bring together the Latin American food safety community and grow alongside a constantly changing industry.
Venue: Querétaro, Mexico. Dates: April 19–20, 2023.
486
Attendees
10
Exhibitors
22
Speakers
21
Talks
Program
Day 1 — April 19
- 8:00 – 8:30
Congress opening and kickoff
Speaker: Welcome committee
- 8:30 – 9:00
GFSI Global Food Safety Initiative's Race to the Top Strategy. Progress and challenges.
Speaker: Erika Sheward, Executive Director, Global Food Safety Initiative (France)
- 9:00 – 9:45
Guiding supplier development under world-class quality standards.
Speaker: Marcos Trinidad, Supply Chain Manager, Walmart Mexico and Central America (Mexico)
- 9:45 – 10:30
The supply chain from a retail perspective. The Grupo Éxito case.
Speaker: Mónica Montoya, Latam Quality Director, Casino France / Grupo Éxito Colombia (Colombia)
- 10:30 – 11:15
Supply chain development challenges in a complex global environment. The Sigma Alimentos case.
Speaker: Gregorio de Haene, Corporate R&D Director, Sigma Alimentos (Mexico)
- 11:15 – 11:45
Break. Trade expo coffee break
- 11:45 – 12:30
A food supply perspective. The Alsea-Starbucks case.
Speaker: Patricia Ramírez, Corporate Quality and Supply Chain Director, Alsea Starbucks (Mexico)
- 12:30 – 13:15
Significant new pathogens. Myths or realities?
Speaker: Gustavo González, Professional Service Manager Neogen LATAM, 3M-NEOGEN (Mexico)
- 13:15 – 14:15
Lunch on your own
- 14:15 – 15:00
Front-of-pack food labeling. Regulatory challenges in Latin America.
Speaker: Liliana Peralta, Executive Director, ACTA Colombia (Colombia)
- 15:00 – 15:45
Codex Alimentarius: The food industry's regulatory challenges in the Latam region.
Speaker: Michel Leporati, President, Chilean Association for Food Protection, CHAFP (Chile)
- 15:45 – 16:30
Break. Trade expo coffee break
- 16:30 – 17:15
Incident and crisis management from a cultural perspective.
Speaker: Bruno Sechet, Director of Quality and Food Integrity (Spain)
- 17:15 – 18:00
Food safety and sustainability management with a holistic approach.
Speaker: Daniela Poblete, Latin America Director, IFS International Featured Standards (Chile)
- 18:00 – 18:30
Group photo
Hotel gardens
- 18:30 – 21:30
Welcome cocktail
Hotel gardens
Day 2 — April 20
- 8:00 – 9:00
Sustainability and food safety. A holistic vision.
Speaker: Ignacio Gavilan, Global Sustainability Director, The Consumer Goods Forum (France)
- 9:00 – 9:45
GLOBAL G.A.P. and its holistic approach to sustainability.
Speaker: Marco Villegas, Executive Director Mexico, Global G.A.P. (Germany/Mexico)
- 9:45 – 10:30
FSSC 24000. An answer to corporate social management.
Speaker: Guido Djens, Marketing Director, FSSC Foundation (Netherlands)
- 10:30 – 11:00
Break. Trade expo coffee break
- 11:00 – 11:45
BRCGS Food version 9. Focus on the changes and the compliance program.
Speaker: Jessica Burke, Delivery Partner Relationship Manager, BRCGS, and OFPA Vice President (United Kingdom)
- 11:45 – 12:30
SQF version 9. Latest amendments and the main non-conformities in certification audits.
Speaker: Luis Alberto Cruz García, SQF Mexico Director (USA/Mexico)
- 12:30 – 13:15
FSSC 22000 version 6. New requirements.
Speaker: Cor Groenveld, Technical Director, FSSC Foundation (Netherlands)
- 13:15 – 14:30
Lunch on your own
- 14:30 – 15:15
Food authenticity and fraud. Lessons from the European Union.
Speaker: Sterling Crew, Chairman of the Advisory Committee, The Food Authenticity Network (United Kingdom)
- 15:15 – 15:45
Big data in food safety and quality management.
Speaker: Erik Westblom and Kevin Davies, CEO / Chief Marketing Officer, Provision Analytics (Canada)
- 15:45 – 16:15
Break. Trade expo coffee break
- 16:15 – 16:45
Consumers' right to truthful and reliable information.
Speaker: Maximilian Kurte, CEO, Echo Tech (Germany)
- 16:45 – 17:30
Food safety culture: a vision beyond the requirements of norms and standards.
Speaker: Joaquín Nava, CEO, Delcen (Mexico)
- 17:30 – 18:45
Food industry challenges in a complex global environment.
Speaker: Frank Yiannas, Former FDA Deputy Commissioner, Food Safety Specialist, Influencer & Change Maker (United States)