The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will host "Hack4safeFood," a regional technology and policy hackathon. The event will be held at the SFDA's headquarters in Riyadh from September 9-10, 2025, bringing together experts and innovative thinkers to develop solutions for critical food safety challenges in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

As a global leader in food safety, the SFDA is leveraging this hackathon to enable innovation and build advanced technical and policy solutions. The event will address the most prominent food safety challenges in the NENA region with a dual focus on technology (including AI, traceability, monitoring, and early warning systems) and policy (such as circular economy, food waste recovery, and regulatory innovations). Participants will concentrate on three key areas: food supply chain tracking, early warning and rapid response to detect food risks, and reducing food loss and waste.

The winning participants will receive significant opportunities, including a six-month incubation program and the chance to pitch their idea at the FAO’s Science and Innovation Forum, to be held in Rome in October 2025. Other opportunities include scholarships, internships, and access to a broad network of researchers and innovators within the food safety system.

Hack4safeFood is a dynamic platform for researchers, innovators, and policymakers to connect, exchange ideas, share knowledge, and discuss best practices in the vital field of food safety. The hackathon will run for two full days, culminating in the announcement of the winners on the second day.

The organization of this event reflects the ongoing collaboration between SFDA and the FAO, a shared endeavor to utilize data and artificial intelligence to advance food practices at the local and regional levels.