EFF-CoP’s Authentic Food Festival & Conference (AFFC) 2026 

This May, Dublin will become a meeting point for the people working every day to protect the authenticity of our food.

On 27–28 May 2026, EFF-CoP, the European Food Fraud Community of Practice will host the 1st Authentic Food Festival & Conference (AFFC) at the University College Dublin, bringing together researchers, food professionals, authorities, laboratories, investigators, industry representatives, and students for two days of exchange, reflection, and collaboration around one shared goal: strengthening trust in food systems.

At a time when food fraud remains a growing and complex challenge, this event offers much more than a traditional conference. It creates a space where science meets practice, where policy meets innovation, and where people from across Europe and beyond can come together to discuss solutions, share knowledge, and build stronger connections within the food integrity community.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore current developments in food fraud prevention and food fraud detection, listen to leading experts in the field, and take part in discussions that connect research with real-world action. The programme promises a rich mix of presentations, round tables, workshops, and interactive moments designed not only to inform, but also to inspire.

Among the highlights of this year’s event is the Prize for the Best Counter Fraudster, which will be awarded during the AFFC in Dublin. Through this initiative, EFF-CoP aims to shine a light on the people who are truly making a difference in the fight against food fraud. Whether working in authorities, science and research, industry, laboratories, or investigation bodies, nominees for this award represent the people whose dedication, innovation, and impact help protect food integrity every day. If you know someone whose work deserves recognition, nominations are now open.Submit your nomination here.  📅 Deadline for nominations: 2 May 2026.

The conference also invites contributions from those wishing to present their work. While the deadline for oral and regular poster presentations has already passed (21 March 2026), there is still time to submit a last-minute poster presentation until 20 May 2026. This offers one more opportunity for researchers and professionals to share ideas, findings, and approaches with an audience deeply engaged in food authenticity and fraud prevention. For those planning to attend, registrations remain open until 20 May 2026 and you can register here.

The Authentic Food Festival & Conference is not just about identifying problems. It is about celebrating knowledge, encouraging cooperation, and giving visibility to the people and ideas that can help shape a more transparent and trustworthy food future.
This May, Dublin will host those conversations. And EFF-CoP is inviting the community to be part of them.

For more information, registration details, and the programme, visit:
https://www.eff-cop.eu/festival

The European Food Fraud Community of Practice (EFF-CoP) is bringing together the food integrity community for the 1st Authentic Food Festival and Conference, taking place 27–28 May 2026 at University College Dublin, Ireland.

This two-day event combines scientific exchange, practical insights, and interactive experiences, creating a meeting point for researchers, regulators, industry experts, and students working to protect the authenticity of our food systems.

Participants will explore the latest developments in food fraud detection, prevention strategies, policy insights, and supply-chain transparency, while also engaging in interactive sessions, discussions, and collaborative activities. 

Key Dates to Remember

Abstract Submissions

📅 21 March 2026 – Deadline for oral and regular poster presentations
📅 20 May 2026 – Deadline for last-minute poster presentations

Registrations

📅 31 March 2026 – Early bird registration deadline (reduced fee)
📅 20 May 2026 – Regular registration deadline

 🎓 Student rate available: €25 (€20 early bird until 31 March 2026). Email effcop@ucd.ie (proof of university registration required).

Featured Speakers

The festival-conference will host leading voices from academia, industry, and policy who are shaping the fight against food fraud:

• Prof. Maarten Boksem: “Honestly Dishonest: Exploring the Cheating Brain”– Erasmus University Rotterdam.
• Dr Alex Kupatadze: “Detecting the Invisible: How Trade Data Exposes Illicit Activity in Supply Chains”– School of Politics and Economics, Kings College London, UK.
• Prof. Chris Elliott: “From the Lab to the Front Line” – Queen's University Belfast.
• Frank Cederhout: “How to become a Fraudster” – Forensic Accountant/Forensic Investigator, Deloitte.
• Roland Hassel: “Anti-Corruption Training in the Aid Sector: From Research to Practice” – German Red Cross Corruption Prevention Manager & Anti-Corruption Consultant.
• Prof. Alan Reilly: “From the Horse’s Mouth – The Scandal That Put Food Fraud on the EU’s Menu”– Adjunct Professor, UCD/Former Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. 

Session Chairs and Moderators

The programme will also feature experienced moderators guiding discussions and interactive sessions:

• Dr Selvarani Elahi, Chair Session: Innovation meets Trust – LGC
• Dr Di Wu, Chair Session: Tech meets Trust – Queen's University Belfast
• Dr Hans van der Moolen, Moderator: Clinic “Under Pressure” – Eurofins Food Safety Solutions
• Prof. Saskia van Ruth, Moderator: Clinic “Under Pressure” – University College Dublin
• Frank Cederhout, Moderator: Clinic “Under Pressure” – Deloitte. 

Round Table: Good Practices, Shared Insights

A dedicated round table will bring together experts from public authorities and industry to share practical approaches to tackling food fraud:

• Dr Karen Gussow – Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority - Intelligence and Criminal Investigations Unit (NVWA-IOD)
• Ivo Muller – QFS Risk Management Strategy Director, Danone Quality and Food Safety
• Quincy Lissaur – SSAFE, Moderator
• Ray Bowe – Director Food Safety & Quality, Musgrave Group. 

Interactive Workshop

Beverly Wenger-Trayner and Etienne Wenger-Trayner from Wenger-Trayner will moderate the workshop: “From Gaps to Action: Strengthening Food Fraud Education Across Europe.” 

Join the Community

The 1st Authentic Food Festival and Conference is designed not only to share knowledge but also to build connections across the food integrity community. From scientific presentations and expert panels to interactive workshops and networking opportunities, the event aims to inspire collaboration and new ideas in the fight against food fraud.

📍 Dublin, Ireland — 27–28 May 2026

For registration, abstract submission, and the preliminary agenda, visit: https://www.eff-cop.eu/festival  

Authenticity Has a Meeting Point – Dublin 2026

Search in a browser: “Weather in Dublin, May” | “EFF-CoP” | “Authentic Food Festival and Conference” → what is the similarity between these three different searches? I’ll tell you right away!

EFF-CoP is organising the first Authentic Food Festival and Conference in Dublin, on 27–28 May 2026.

Picture this: researchers, inspectors, industry experts, food integrity champions, and students all in one place - talking science, sharing stories, and tackling food fraud head-on. Now add food trucks, interactive games, debates, and even a mini film festival.That’s the spirit of the Authentic Food Festival and Conference, happening 27–28 May 2026 at University College Dublin, Ireland.

Organised by the EFF-CoP, the event blends serious discussion with creative formats like Escape the Fraud Room, live debates (Fraudsters vs Fighters), science labs, poster markets, and hands-on learning experiences.

It’s not just a conference—it’s a celebration of the fight for food authenticity. And since every celebration needs music, the Authentic Food Festival and Conference will include live performances too.

Here: https://www.eff-cop.eu/festival you can book your tickets, have a look at the preliminary agenda, and also submit your abstract - because don’t forget, it is not only a festival but also a conference.

The EFF-Consortium will be there and will be waiting to meet you in person!

From Boardroom to Berlin: EFF-CoP in Action

For more than half a year, the EFF-Editorial Board has been steadily shaping the voice of a growing community. Through frequent meetings, the Editorial Board reviews ideas, discusses themes, and schedules each upcoming EFF-publication in the New Food Magazine.

Their collaborative rhythm has already produced three published articles, all available to registered users on the EFF-Hub, forming a reliable stream of insights for everyone across the food-fraud field. Read HERE the latest EFF-article.

 That same spirit of shared expertise came to life at the International Food Fraud Conference 2025 in Berlin. EFF-CoP partners from across Europe gathered to exchange knowledge and spark new conversations. On the first day (5/11/2025), EFF-CoP led a workshop exploring the “state of the art and main challenges,” inviting participants to identify gaps and build a shared vision for safer, more transparent food systems.

The second day (6/11/2026) featured a joint session with the Watson Project, examining how climate change, geopolitical shifts, and economic pressures may reshape food fraud in the decade ahead. The day concluded with an uplifting presentation by EFF-CoP’s coordinator, Prof. Saskia van Routh, titled “The Power of We: The European Food Fraud Community of Practice Story,” in which she also introduced the Food Fraud Festival in Dublin (27–28 May 2026)—a future gathering where collaboration, innovation, and community will continue to grow, offering many insights into food fraud.

For more details, photos and videos, click HERE.

Finally, don’t forget to register on the EFF-HUB - the central meeting point for our food fraud community. There, members can chat, exchange knowledge, and access EFF-CoP’s materials, webinars, and workshop updates. Together, we’re not just learning about food fraud - we’re building the future of prevention, one workshop at a time.

Workshops and Round Tables: The EFF-CoP Community Is Growing - and More Passionate Than Ever About Fighting Food Fraud

The EFF-CoP Consortium members are more active than ever, united by a single mission: to smash food fraud.

But how can we truly achieve this goal? Only if we communicate together, share our message, and act collectively - as a community of dedicated food fraud detectives.

And how do we do that? By joining the EFF-CoP Workshops and Round Tables - the spaces where collaboration, learning, and innovation come to life.

That’s why EFF-CoP is thrilled to announce an in-person Workshop during the Food Fraud Conference 2025 in Berlin, taking place on November 5th, from 9:00 to 12:00.CEST
👉 Register now - seats are limited! Don’t miss the chance to be part of this dynamic, hands-on session.

Earlier this month, from October 8–10, EFF-CoP also organized an exciting workshop during the Final Meeting of the sensAIfood Project. The session was designed to foster collaboration and spark out-of-the-box thinking among participants.

It began with a short introduction to EFF-CoP and an overview of early results, followed by an energizing activity to get everyone engaged. Then came the main challenge - a creative exercise inviting participants to imagine a food fraud case in the year 2050.

They explored three key questions:

1. What type of fraud could occur, and who might be involved?
2. How could it be detected?
3. What measures can we take today to prevent it?

Around 50 participants joined, producing creative, insightful, and often humorous ideas - turning the workshop into a lively and inspiring conclusion to the conference. We truly hope everyone enjoyed the session as much as we did! The feedback from stakeholders in these workshops will be considered in the ultimate output of EFF-CoP work package 2, a White paper on the future research agenda given the current needs of the community.

On the 4th of July, the EFF-CoP community came together for a truly special event:     Virtual Workshop on Food Fraud Synergies 🌍.

Coordinators and partners from other EFF-CoP sister projects (THEROS_project, TITAN Project EU, sensAIfood IG19145, Watson Project, ALLIANCE EU) presented their initiatives and shared how they are contributing to food fraud detection and prevention. 

The webinar attracted 228 registrations📝, with 138 participants joining live 💻 - a clear sign of how relevant the webinar was. The feedback? Participants loved every minute of it!

If you missed it, don’t worry. The recording is available here: https://hub.eff-cop.eu/post/food-fraud-synergies. Just remember: you’ll need to be an EFF-CoP member to access it. Don’t miss out -register today and step into the world of EFF-Synergies, where you too can become a food fraud detective! 🕵️‍♀️🍴.

During March, EFF-CoP launched the EFF-CoP Editorial Board Team! This newly formed board not only produced its first article but also collaborated with New Food Magazine.

By registering on EFF-HUB and becoming a member, you can access the article “The Rising Tide of Food Fraud”, written by EFF-CoP Coordinator, Prof. Saskia van Ruth. As an EFF-HUB member/ ambassador, you will also be the first to hear about all events organised or attended by EFF-CoP.

The first EFF-CoP community-wide event, titled “Igniting Conversation in the European Food Fraud Community,” gathered more than 100 participants from various professions, all united by a common goal: to detect food fraud and deepen their understanding of the topic. You can find more details about the event here: Our First Spark – The EFF-CoP Community in Action.

And the story continues! EFF-CoP is now preparing its first virtual workshop, “Food Fraud Synergies”. In this workshop, representatives from EC sister projects will share their initiatives and actions, bringing fresh perspectives to the fight against food fraud.

👉 Don’t miss it - visit Workshop: Food Fraud Synergies to register today!

On June 26th, 2025, the European Food Fraud Community of Practice (EFF-CoP) is hosting its first community-wide event, and you’re invited!

This isn’t a typical online session. It’s a live, interactive gathering designed to ignite conversations across the food fraud community - from researchers and regulators to producers, students, and even everyday consumers interested in food fraud.

Whether you're deeply involved in food policy or simply passionate about what ends up on your plate, this is your chance to connect and contribute in a vibrant online space.

Save the date and register!
🕒 26th June 2025 | 14:30–16:00 CET
📍 Online
🔗 Register here

EFF-CoP has launched its website: 🌐 https://www.eff-cop.eu or scan the QR code to explore:

• Everything you need to know about the EFF-CoP project
• Profiles of EFF-CoP partners.
• EFF-CoP promotional materials.
• The evolving EFF-CoP landscape (including the Food Authenticity Network).
• The latest updates: news, events, newsletters, and more.

📣 Coming soon: EFF-HUB!
The EFF-HUB, your one-stop digital space to connect, collaborate, and stay informed on food fraud prevention will be vailable very soon.

🎧 And if you speak Greek, don’t miss the EFF-CoP feature on CNN Greece where EFF-CoP partner Smart Agro Hub (Dissemination- Exploitation- Communication Work Package Leader), represented by Evangelia Zavitsanou, joined the journalist Kostas Pliakos in a podcast about food fraud, food safety, and how consumers can protect themselves and make informed choices.

Listen the podcast here:
▶️ CNN Greece: https://www.cnn.gr/ellada/audio/477099/i-apati-trofimon-kai-pos-antimetopizetai
🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7MPPLsQDazQ6FdcTPkieSo?si=f1dfbcb2661b445e&nd=1&dlsi=637e2503552f42a1
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/η-απάτη-τροφίμων-και-πώς-αντιμετωπίζεται/id1814684148?i=1000708639993

📥🧾🪧🔖 EFF-CoP promotional materials are ready for distribution. To help spread the word and engage new members, EFF-CoP has developed a range of promotional materials designed to inform, inspire, and connect!

Here’s what you can find:

• Leaflet - A quick and clear introduction to the EFF-CoP mission, objectives, and activities. Perfect for events, classrooms, and partners.
• Stickers - Fun, visual reminders of the EFF-CoP identity - great for students, notebooks, or toolkits.
• Bookmarks - A small but meaningful way to stay connected with EFF-CoP while promoting learning and awareness.

These materials reflect the heart of the project: to build a robust, collaborative European network focused on eradicating food fraud through collaboration, innovation, and shared knowledge.

🌐 EFF-CoP’s website and HUB are currently under construction and will be available soon.

By becoming a member, you will be able to read and write articles focused on food fraud, and engage in conversations with people, experts, and stakeholders who are passionate about this topic. You will also be able to download all promotional materials.

In the meantime, stay tuned to EFF-CoP’s LinkedIn profile, where we will keep you informed about all upcoming updates.

🌍🔍 EFF-CoP Editorial Board📝💡

The European Food Fraud Community of Practice (EFF-CoP) Editorial Board has been created to ensure knowledge flows freely to help experts unite, and members to shape the conversation!

The EFF-CoP  Editorial Board is comprised of a team of passionate professionals 🏆 dedicated to delivering insightful, high-quality content tailored to our members' interests. Each article will be written by specialists in their fields, ensuring accuracy, depth, and practical insights. All EFF-CoP members are invited to actively participate in shaping our content by engaging with our LinkedIn page.

This Editorial Board isn’t just about writing - it’s about listening and collaborating! Using LinkedIn polls 📊, EFF-CoP will ask YOU, our community, to vote on the topics that matter most. This way, every article will reflect real needs, real concerns, and real expertise!

All these articles will be uploaded to the upcoming EFF-HUB, a dynamic digital platform designed to connect minds, foster innovation, and provide invaluable resources. Only registered members will have access to Good Practice Recommendations, factsheets, case studies, educational content and a forum - all aimed at strengthening the global fight against food fraud.

EFF-CoP invites YOU to be part of this journey! Engage with our polls, suggest topics, and help shape the future of EFF-CoP!

Together, we can build a thriving, knowledge-rich community and strengthen our global fight against food fraud!

🎉 Stay tuned for the launch of the EFF-CoP website and HUB, upcoming articles, and let’s shape the future of food fraud detection and prevention together! 🙌

Please visit the the FAN for EFF-CoP for all EFF-CoP updates.

EFF-CoP at the Analysis 4 Authenticity Conference

On February 12th, a virtual gathering of experts, researchers, and policymakers took place at the Analysis 4 Authenticity Online Food Authenticity Conference, hosted by the Food Authenticity Network.

Among the key speakers was Professor Saskia van Ruth, coordinator of EFF-CoP, who took the stage and introduced the project, a collaborative initiative designed to strengthen cooperation in the fight against fraudulent food practices. She emphasized how EFF-CoP is working to bridge the gaps - bringing experts together and reinforcing food integrity across global supply chains.

Highlights from Project Launch Meeting

In the heart of Amsterdam, on January 15-16 2025, a group of passionate partners[1] came together to officially embark on an important journey - the fight against food fraud. This moment marked the beginning of EFF-CoP, a collective effort dedicated to making food systems more transparent, authentic, and resilient. With a shared vision, the partners made a powerful commitment to:

🌍 Enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing
📖 Develop and disseminate best practices
🚀 Promote innovative learning and capacity building
🔍 Strengthen food authenticity, traceability, and transparency
🤝 Expand and sustain a vibrant community through EFF-HUB
🌱 Ensure long-term viability and impact

Over the course of two inspiring days, Work Package Leaders and partners, took the stage, presenting their ideas, brainstorming strategies, and setting ambitious goals - not just for the project’s success, but for its lasting legacy beyond its official duration. But it wasn’t all work; they also cooked together, danced together, and built the kind of trust and camaraderie that turns a group of professionals into a true team.

In the coming months, EFF-CoP will launch its official website and EFF-HUB, a dynamic digital platform designed to connect minds, foster innovation, and provide invaluable resources. Members will have access to Good Practice Recommendations, factsheets, case studies, educational content and a forum - all aimed at strengthening the global fight against food fraud.

But learning won’t be confined to static resources. EFF-CoP is set to revolutionize engagement with interactive activities like food fraud festivals, gamified training sessions, living labs, webinars, podcasts, and hands-on workshops.

Whether you’re an expert, a researcher, a policymaker, or simply someone who cares about the integrity of the food on your plate - you are welcome to join. The fight against food fraud needs a community, and that community starts here.

[1] UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, AGROKNOW IKE, SMART AGRO HUB, NOFIMA AS, WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY, REZOS BRANDS, LGC LIMITED, 8D GAMES BV, DELOITTE LIMITED, RETE INTERNAZIONALE PER LE PICCOLEE MEDIE IMPRESE, EUROFINS ANALYTICS FRANCE SAS, WENGER-TRAYNER UNIPESSOAL LDA, AUTORIDADE SEGURANCA ALIMENTAR E ECONOMICA, SSAFE, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements - EU Group, FIIN LTD, UDRUGA DIH AGRIHRANA HRVATSKA, Food Fraud Prevention Think Tank LLC, Stichting Fraude Film Festival, Stichting FSSC.