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Global assurance partner LRQA is urging the food industry to establish solid foundations in food safety culture before fully embracing new technologies like AI. Despite the potential benefits of AI in enhancing efficiency across global food supply chains, LRQA emphasises the necessity of fostering a culture where food safety takes precedence at every stage of the supply chain. Jan Kranghand, global head of LRQA's Food Centre of Excellence, said: “Technological advances have the potential to revolutionise the way we approach food safety. AI systems could enable large amounts of data to be analysed to identify patterns and generate insights, while blockchain, which is an unchangeable digital record of transactions, promotes transparency by monitoring the movement of food products through the supply chain." He continued: “However, it’s important we put the foundations in place before we put all our faith in technology. Food is better than ever, but this cannot be taken for granted. The food industry must prioritise transparency, ensure it is collecting the right data and focus on creating a food safety culture.” Kranghand commented that many food businesses operate with a traditional, science-based approach that addresses food safety on a compliance basis: “Before organisations implement technologies such as AI, blockchain and the IoT (Internet of Things), they must first change the way they think". "Moving forward, this means evaluating processes and asking if current techniques are fit for purpose. Companies must understand what ‘best-in-class’ food safety is, with business leaders driving change from the top. Plus, by taking a step back to assess systems, processes, and procedures, gaps can be identified to achieve a harmonised risk-based approach.” He emphasises the need for a shift in mindset within the industry, urging organisations to evaluate existing processes and adopt a risk-based approach. Before implementing technologies like AI, blockchain and IoT, companies must first understand the concept of 'best-in-class' food safety, with leadership driving change from the top. The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) defines culture as shared values, beliefs, and norms affecting mindset and behaviour toward food safety throughout an organization. Kranghand advocates for employee engagement, stating: “For an effective food safety culture, implementation requires employee engagement. It’s about clearly explaining not just what staff need to do, but why these protocols matter and what the consequences of falling short are. Doing this helps give teams ownership of food safety and ensures they feel more accountable for their actions.” He highlights the importance of explaining not only what staff need to do but also why these protocols matter and what the consequences of falling short are. To support organisations in implementing a strong food safety culture, LRQA recommends frameworks such as the Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000) and supply chain integrity programmes. These frameworks guide achieving a balanced approach that combines compliance with a holistic perspective. While acknowledging the role of technology in traceability and risk analysis, Kranghand emphasises that a cultural framework is vital. He envisions a combination of technologies providing end-to-end traceability, transforming risk analysis from reactive to proactive. This approach allows auditors to conduct a risk-based assessment rather than merely complying with scheme requirements.