INTEC's 5th Food Safety Symposium focuses on artificial intelligence and technologies to produce safer food
The event brought together specialists from academia and industry to discuss innovative solutions that strengthen food risk detection and evidence-based decision-making.
SANTO DOMINGO - During the V Food Safety Symposium of Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), under the slogan “Safe food everywhere”, Dr. Luis Orlando Maroto warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is a vital resource to prevent foodborne illnesses, but runs the risk of being a “digital contaminant” due to a lack of supervision or inaccurate data.
In his presentation Artificial Intelligence in Food Safety: Strategic Ally or Digital Contaminant?, the expert professor from INTEC stressed the urgency of moving towards predictive schemes through the use of biosensors and the Internet of Things (IoT) to optimize the monitoring and tracking of supplies.
Maroto highlighted that processing large volumes of data in real time allows for the rapid detection of harmful agents, while smart packaging monitors critical conditions such as pH and temperature. However, she emphasized that without robust governance, AI can be based on biased assumptions, becoming a risk.
He also questioned the opacity of certain algorithms that prevent verification of their conclusions, complicating health inspections and the assignment of legal responsibility. He further warned that total technological dependence is vulnerable to power outages or cyberattacks if staff are not trained to operate autonomously.
The speaker concluded that human judgment must be the cornerstone of these innovations. Furthermore, he stated that professionals who master AI will displace those who do not. The event brought together various sectors to discuss the challenges of food security.
In addition to the keynote lectures, the symposium included two specialized presentations focused on strengthening the skills of professionals in the food sector. Engineer Ana Francisca Tavarez Méndez, from the Center for Agricultural and Forestry Development (CEDAF) and Twin Food Safety RD, presented the lecture "Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI): Competencies, Responsibilities, and Compliance Strategies under the FSMA," in which she addressed the role of the Preventive Controls Qualified Individual and the requirements of the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
The day concluded with the virtual conference "Leading with Responsibility: Culture, Risk, and Decisions that Protect Lives," presented by Damarys Del Castillo of Sigma. During her presentation, she emphasized the importance of strengthening an organizational culture based on responsibility, risk management, and decision-making aimed at protecting consumer health and ensuring food safety throughout the entire food chain.
On the other hand, Birgit Sánchez, a graduate of the biotechnology program at INTEC, from BDC Serrallés SRL, presented on control systems such as PCR and ELISA to expedite the detection of biological and chemical threats.
The opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Edian Franco, head of the Food Safety Laboratory at INTEC, who cited WHO figures indicating 600 million illnesses annually due to the consumption of unsafe products. Franco explained that his unit investigates various meat products to generate evidence that will raise national standards.
The symposium, supported by entities such as Planeta Azul and Café Santo Domingo, included topics on Mycobacterium bovis, leadership in quality culture and scientific presentations by students and researchers.
About the Food Safety Laboratory
The Food Safety Laboratory at INTEC offers microbiological analysis and scientific-technical consulting to support quality control, reduce health risks, and ensure compliance with regulations in the food and beverage sector. In addition, it conducted a study that detected antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the Yaque del Norte and Yaque del Sur rivers in Ecuador.