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BfR organising a Summer Academy in Uruguay

09/2018, 12.03.2018

Support in the expansion of public risk assessment structures in Uruguay

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is holding  a Summer Academy in Montevideo, Uruguay from 12 to 16 March 2018 on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).  40 scientists from the field of risk management and scientific research will be taking part in the event. The Summer Academy will be opened by Uruguay's Minister of Agriculture, Enzo Benech. The training serves the purpose of expanding official risk assessment structures in Uruguay. "Uruguay and Germany are united in the field of food and agriculture by a close partnership that stretches back over many years," says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel, who will be participating in the event with a delegation of specialists from the BfR. "Uruguay is an important trading partner and supplier of agricultural products to the EU. The BfR and the Uruguayan ministry of agriculture signed a cooperation agreement as far back as 2014. We are pleased that we are able to provide Uruguay with targeted support with our expertise in the field of risk assessment".

The structures of official risk assessment in Germany and Europe, as well as the fundamentals of the assessment of microbial and chemical risks, are to be determined during the five-day event. The focus lies on the health assessment of pesticides with regard to chemical safety. Microbial risks will be dealt with among other issues in connection with antimicrobial resistance. One of the areas of main focus of the event is formed by workshops on the topic of exposure estimation, including an introduction to the globally established national total diet studies, as well as questions on how to deal with scientific uncertainty and variability. The Summer Academy is rounded off by a presentation with discussion on the subject of risk communication.

Uruguay is a large agricultural exporter, with roughly 75 percent of its exports being accounted for by agricultural goods. Above all foods, such as cereals, and raw feed products, such as soya beans, are exported to Europe. Germany is Uruguay's most important trading partner. In February 2017, the German Minister of Food and Agriculture, Christian Schmidt, and his former Uruguayan counterpart Tabaré Aguerre signed a joint declaration of intent on cooperation in the field of bio-economy, in which it was agreed that the BfR would organise a Summer Academy in Uruguay.

About the BfR

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany. It advises the Federal Government and Federal Laender on questions of food, chemical and product safety. The BfR conducts its own research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.

This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.

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