The European Food Fraud Community of Practice

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.