MedFoodNet has been launched, a two-year international project funded by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and coordinated by the Istituto Zooprofilattico delle Venezie (IZSVe), aimed at promoting a culture of food risk communication. For this reason, a multidisciplinary consortium has been created, which includes communication experts, social researchers, biologists, chemists and veterinarians from research centres, universities and authorities for the assessment and management of food risks. The consortium also involves countries that are not members of the European Union but border the Mediterranean (Albania, Tunisia and the Republic of Kosovo), in order to establish coordinated mechanisms for communicating food risks outside the EU as well.

The specific objectives of the project are divided into three areas:

•        Networking and capacity building, i.e. building the Mediterranean network, defining and implementing its governance methods and training partners in risk assessment and communication.
•        Research in risk communication: analysis of risk perception and information disseminated in the media in relation to food risks, co-creation initiatives.
•        Communication and dissemination of results: definition of a communication plan for the implementation of public outreach initiatives, joint communication campaigns, and participation in scientific conferences.

The project, which has a total duration of 24 months, hasconsumers as its main target audience. They will be reached through specific educational and awareness campaigns on priority food safety issues for the partners’ geographical area.