Interview: Cemalettin Kanaş
EFSA’s newly appointed Executive Director, Dr. Kriz, sets out a new roadmap for the Authority built around speed, innovation and cooperation. Positioning feed safety as the starting point of the food chain, EFSA frames the transformation of scientific risk assessment and stronger international coordination as strategic priorities. This approach spans strengthened global partnerships with FAO, the scientific integration of candidate countries and a clear message to the sector on the importance of early engagement.
Dr. Nikolaus Kriz, Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Feed Planet is pleased to present this exclusive interview with Dr. Nikolaus Kriz, newly appointed Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). At a time when feed and food safety face increasing scientific, regulatory and societal pressure, we value EFSA’s decision to share Dr. Kriz’s first strategic reflections with our readership.
In the interview, Dr. Kriz sets out a clear vision for EFSA built on three pillars “speed, innovation and cooperation” noting that these are essential “to deliver high-quality scientific advice more quickly while strengthening the EU food safety system.” He underlines the critical role of feed safety as the first link in the food chain, pointing to recent and ongoing work within the FEEDAP Panel on novel feed additives and evolving production practices.
The conversation also explores EFSA’s expanding international engagement, including closer cooperation with FAO and an upcoming Memorandum of Cooperation, as well as strengthened ties with EU candidate and pre-accession countries. For Feed Planet readers, Dr. Kriz’s references to Turkey and the IPA III Programme stand out, alongside a direct message to feed manufacturers and applicants: early dialogue with EFSA is key to enabling innovation while safeguarding safety.
You have recently started your mandate as EFSA’s Executive Director. Could you share what motivated you to take on this role and what your key priorities and vision are over the next five years?
I have dedicated my professional life so far to science, public health, and European cooperation. Since EFSA is the natural point where all these worlds meet, I’m honoured to have the opportunity to further contribute to these areas.
The EU food safety system is one of the strongest worldwide, and EFSA has played a major role in that achievement. However, new challenges are emerging and require us to reflect on how we can further improve.
My vision for EFSA’s future is based on three pillars: speed, innovation and cooperation.
Speed will allow us to deliver high-quality scientific advice more quickly to meet policy needs and societal expectations. At the same time, innovation will allow us to make the most of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to streamline our risk assessments and enhance our data processing capabilities. Lastly, considering our role in Europe, we must continue to work together to build a stronger EU food safety system.
Feed safety forms the first link in the food chain. How do you see EFSA’s role evolving in addressing risks related to feed raw materials, additives, and production practices?
While our role in providing scientific advice and supporting EU institutions such as the European Commission remains unchanged, the way we perform this task is evolving. Today, we have immense amounts of data available, as well as new tools that can help us work more efficiently.
We continuously monitor scientific developments, including new feed additives and production processes, and we update our guidance documents and scientific assessments accordingly. For instance, our expert panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) recently evaluated the safety of the first bacteriophage-based feed additive. Our experts are also developing guidance to incorporate considerations on nanoparticles into the risk assessments of feed.
These initiatives reflect our commitment to integrating cutting-edge science and ensuring feed safety remains a cornerstone of safe food chains.
With the EU’s Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy shaping policy, how will EFSA balance sustainability goals with its mission to provide rigorous and independent risk assessment?
At EFSA, we see food safety and sustainability as complementary: both are essential to build resilient and future-ready food systems. Our role is to ensure that sustainability initiatives continue to meet high safety standards. With our safety assessments we can help enable responsible and innovative sustainable practices.
EFSA is recognized globally for its independent science-based opinions. In an era of rising public scrutiny and polarized debates, how will you ensure EFSA continues to foster trust among policymakers, industry, and citizens?
We know we cannot take trust in our work for granted. We need to work to earn it every day. That is why we work in full transparency and openness so that policymakers, stakeholders and interested citizens can follow everything we do and contribute too.
We took major steps forward over the past years. Our data, models and outputs are now more accessible than ever. Additionally, we involve our stakeholders throughout the scientific process, inviting them to share their insights, data and feedback. This ensures we consider the widest possible range of views and information in our work and recommendations.
I believe this is the right path and we can still go further.
ONE HEALTH AND GLOBAL COOPERATION
Your career spans both EFSA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). From this unique perspective, what are the most pressing opportunities for EFSA-EMA collaboration on ‘One Health’ issues like antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?
My experience has shown me that we cannot afford to work in isolation. This leads to duplicated efforts, misaligned approaches and missed opportunities.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a perfect example of a health challenge on which the European Medicines Agency (EMA), EFSA and other EU agencies work together. It is a complex issue that threatens human and animal health and knows no borders.
Over the last years, together with EMA, ECDC and Member States, we’ve been tracking the development of AMR, antibiotic consumption, different sources of resistance, and advising policymakers.
To monitor progress, we need adequate surveillance activities, and transparent data sharing. New technologies such as genomic surveillance improve our understanding of the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance and help us detect emerging resistance.
We’re also progressing on the “One Substance, One Assessment” approach, which streamline the assessment of chemicals in the EU and consolidate scientific and technical work from the different EU agencies.
DIGITALIZATION, AI AND THE FUTURE OF RISK ASSESSMENT
Data-driven tools, AI, and digital platforms are transforming agriculture and feed production. How does EFSA plan to integrate such innovations into its risk assessment work?
We’re already making use of new tools and approaches to become faster. Innovation is part of EFSA’s DNA – that’s how we keep Europe safe.
We began exploring AI in 2017, investigating its potential in risk assessment. Our perspective is that a human-centric AI approach can support our experts’ work, freeing them to work on the science that matters most.
We see AI as a way to speed up our risk assessment, by supporting the analysis of evidence submitted by applicants or collected through literature reviews, outsourcing procedures, and internal work. Critical to this is an AI governance model that ensures compliance and accountability.
Our dedicated task force on AI is also modernising data collection and sharing across Europe, enhancing the quality of evidence, and improving public engagement through smarter, tech-enabled insights.
GLOBAL FEED SAFETY BEYOND EU BORDERS
Feed and food trade are global. What are your priorities for reinforcing EFSA’s cooperation with international organizations and third countries to address shared feed and food safety challenges?
Food and feed risks don’t stop at borders. Risks, trade, and supply chains are global and we must work internationally to protect consumers.
Just a few weeks ago, we met our counterparts at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to discuss our cooperation such as deeper joint efforts on animal health and welfare, food safety, and monitoring. We’ll soon sign a Memorandum of Cooperation to further strengthen this partnership.
We are also strengthening cooperation with pre-accession countries to the European Union, such as Turkey, to support their future integration into EFSA’s scientific work and the EU food safety system. The EFSA Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) III Programme helps them understand EU food safety policies, enhance consumer protection and align with the EU acquis, while building the capacities needed to contribute effectively to our work.
Through these efforts, we aim to promote harmonised risk assessment approaches and encourage active involvement of experts from the pre-accession countries in EFSA’s risk assessment and risk communication communities.
What emerging risks in animal feed (e.g., novel ingredients, climate change impacts on crops, new production processes) is EFSA most focused on for the coming decade?
Several emerging risks are shaping our agenda. Novel feed products, such as functional feed additives, present both opportunities and challenges for safety assessment. Climate change is another critical factor as it can alter crop composition and, for instance, introduce new hazards such as contaminants. Innovative production processes such as precision fermentation also require careful evaluation to ensure they meet safety standards.
Right now, we are prioritising the modernisation of our risk assessment processes to remain responsive to rapid developments in feed innovation. This effort involves reviewing our methodologies, tools, and approaches to reduce assessment times while maintaining the highest safety standards.
How is EFSA’s risk assessment approach adapting to support the circular economy, for example in the safe use of former foodstuffs, insect protein, or by-products in animal feed?
Animal by-products can be re-used in a wide variety of ways from the production of alternative energy sources to fertilisers, feed and cosmetics. It means less waste, more renewable resources and alternative sources of proteins and minerals. Safety must be at the heart of a strong circular economy.
We assess whether alternative methods to process animal by-products are safe. For example, our experts have analysed the risks from using animal by-products such as collagen and gelatine derived from ruminants in feed, which informed the European Commission’s decision to allow their use. Evaluations like this support policymakers and highlight research needs.
By integrating these considerations into our risk assessment approach, we can help enable sustainable practices without compromising food and feed safety.
Finally, what message would you like to share with feed manufacturers, nutritionists, and other professionals who rely on EFSA’s guidance and scientific expertise in their daily work?
We’re here to support science and innovation. We see our role at EFSA as partners for food operators and we always remain ready to reply to any questions and suggestions. After all, we all share the same goal of a safe and strong food chain in Europe.
One tip for manufacturers and potential applicants: we encourage you to reach out to us at an early stage of your application so we can clarify your questions and make sure that the assessment process is as efficient as possible.