In line with the concept of the previous events, RAFA 2026 Symposium will provide an overview of contemporary trends in the ANALYTICAL & BIOANALYTICAL STRATEGIES IN FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY CONTROL and discuss the CHALLENGES AND NOVEL APPROACHES IN FOOD AND NATURAL PRODUCTS ANALYSIS. Following RECENT & EMERGING ISSUES will be addressed in the RAFA 2026 sessions:

• Alternative proteins
• Biologically active compounds
• Environmental contaminants
• Flavour & off-flavours
• Food additives, flavourings
• Food allergens
• Healthy nutrients & vitamins
• Metals & metalloids, including their speciation
• Micro- and nanoplastics in food
• Migrants from food packaging materials
• Mycotoxins, plant alkaloids and other natural toxins
• Pesticide & veterinary drug residues
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
• Process induced contaminants
• Psychoactive and psychomodulation compounds
• Artificial Intelligence in food analysis
• Exposomics & Human biomonitoring
• Food authenticity, fraud and forensics
• Food legislation requirements for food control
• Illegal and natural food supplements
• (Multi)omics in food analysis
• NAMs (New Approach Methodologies)
• Next generation effect-based analysis & Bioassays
• Next generation sequencing for food quality and safety
• Novel analytical approaches
• QA/QC, Chemometrics & Big data handling
• Sensors & Portable food analysis
• Sharing is caring: making tools and databases available for analytical food research
• Sustainability & Green food analysis

PRECEDING RAFAs

RAFA 2024

• 710 delegates participated
• 45 countries from 4 continents represented
• 141 lectures including 28% presented by young scientists
• 440 posters presented
• 34 companies exhibited & sponsored & supported the conference
• 8 media partners collaborated
• 6 poster awards sponsored
• 15 vendor seminars organised

RAFA 2022

• 520 delegates participated
• 40 countries from 5 continents represented
• 93 lectures including 30% presented by young scientists
• 355 posters presented
• 26 companies exhibited & sponsored & supported the conference
• 11 media partners participated
• 6 poster awards granted
• 18 vendor seminars

RAFA 2021 - Virtual event highlighting current Trends & Views

• 1650 participants from 88 countries
• 20 lectures presented by distinguished speakers
• 15% of young scientists' oral presentations
• 45 companies exhibited / sponsored the conference
• Series of 25 VENDOR WEBINARS & ADVERTISING SPOTS
• 31 SPONSORS & SUPPORTING & MEDIA PARTNERS

RAFA 2019

• 820 delegates participated
• 53 countries from 4 continents represented
• 146 lectures including 23% presented by young scientists
• 495 posters presented
• 45 companies exhibited / sponsored the conference
• 15 media partners participated
• 13 poster awards
• 16 vendor seminars, 5 workshops on novel analytical strategies, 1 educative interactive seminar, 2 events co-organised by food authorities beyond EU - China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), EU reference laboratories colloquium and SMART LAB (information and demo’s on smart analyzers for on-site testing of food quality and safety by FoodSmartphone and PhasmaFood EU projects), EU-China-Safe Info Day (Delivering an Effective, Resilient and Sustainable EU-China Food Safety Partnership), EIT Food Awareness event

RAFA 2017

• Almost 750 scientists participated
• 51 countries from 4 continents represented
• 138 lectures including 25% presented by young scientists
• 465 posters presented
• 41 companies exhibited / sponsored the conference
• 12 media partners participated
• 7 poster awards
• 16 vendor seminars, 6 workshops on novel analytical strategies, 1 educative interactive seminar, 2 events organised by food authorities beyond EU - China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), EU reference laboratories colloquium and SMART LAB (information and demo’s on smart analyzers for on-site testing of food quality and safety by FoodIntegrity, FoodSmartphone and PhasmaFood EU projects)

RAFA 2015

• Almost 800 scientists participated
• 61 countries from 5 continents represented
• 132 lectures including 22% presented by young scientists
• 502 posters presented
• 49 companies exhibited / sponsored the conference
• 13 media partners participated
• 9 poster awards
• 15 vendor seminars, 6 workshops on novel analytical strategies, 1 educative interactive seminar, 2 seminars by food authorities FAO/IAEA and USDA, EU reference laboratories colloquium, HORIZON 2020 EU framework program seminar and FoodIntegrity EU project Open Day organized

RAFA 2013

• 800 scientists participated
• 63 countries from 5 continents represented
• 105 lectures including 20% presented by young scientists’
• 565 posters presented
• 44 companies exhibited / sponsored the conference
• 9 media partners participated
• 7 poster awards
• 18 vendor seminars, 3 satellite workshops, 2 educative interactive seminars, 2 seminars by EFSA and USDA, webcast organized

RAFA 2011

• 650 scientists participated
• 47 countries from 5 continents represented
• 80 lectures including 21 young scientists’ presented
• 490 posters/e-presentations presented
• 44 companies exhibited / sponsored the conference
• 6 media partners participated
• 12 vendor seminars, 2 satellite workshops, 2 Open days of EC 7th FP project organized

RAFA 2009

• 530 scientists participated
• 55 countries of 5 continents represented
• 57 lectures including 13 young scientists’ presented
• 440 posters presented
• 26 companies exhibited / sponsored the conference
• 4 media partners participated
• 10 vendor seminars and 2 satellite workshops organized