SFDA, FAO to host regional hackathon advancing food safety innovation

SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will host Hack4safeFood, a regional technology and policy hackathon at SFDA headquarters in Riyadh from September 9–10, 2025. 

The event will bring together researchers, innovators, and policymakers to design advanced solutions to pressing food safety challenges in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

As food supply chains grow more complex, ensuring the safety of products from farm to table has become a critical global issue. Contaminated food is responsible for an estimated 600 million illnesses worldwide each year, according to the World Health Organization, underscoring the need for better prevention, monitoring, and rapid response systems.

SFDA aims to use the hackathon as a platform to accelerate innovation and strengthen technical and regulatory frameworks.

The program will focus on three priority areas: improving food supply chain traceability, creating early warning and rapid-response tools to detect food safety risks, and reducing food loss and waste through circular-economy approaches. 

Participants will explore technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain tracking, and advanced data analytics alongside new policy models to ensure sustainable, scalable solutions.

Winning teams will receive a six-month incubation program to refine their ideas, as well as the opportunity to present at the FAO Science and Innovation Forum in Rome in October 2025. Additional benefits include scholarships, internships, and access to global research networks in food safety and security.

Over two days, Hack4safeFood will feature intensive workshops, mentoring sessions, and cross-sector collaboration. Experts note that this format not only drives technical breakthroughs but also builds alignment between regulators, industry leaders, and academic researchers.

The event reflects the deepening collaboration between SFDA and FAO, both committed to applying data-driven tools and artificial intelligence to enhance food safety practices at local, regional, and global levels. 

By fostering innovation and strengthening policy frameworks, Hack4safeFood aims to protect public health, reduce economic losses from unsafe food, and support the region’s growing role in global food trade.

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