Food Sustainability 101: Safety and Security

In an interview with Food Business Review Latam, Dr. Adeniyi Odugbemi, Global Director of Food Safety and Food Defense at ADM discusses the significance of safety in food production and the role automation can play in it.

Dr. Odugbemi is the global director of food safety and defense for one of the world's leading agricultural and food commodity companies, Archer Daniels Midland Co (ADM). He has worked and accumulated extensive experience in companies, including Green Bay Seven-Up Bottling Company, Maplehurst Bakeries, Kroger Co., and Wayne Farms before joining ADM a little over four years ago. He is responsible for assessing the food safety of ADM products and bears the food safety leadership for ADM worldwide.

What are the key challenges that demand the attention of food business leaders today?

Businesses today often find themselves untying the three-fold knot of food safety, security, and sustainability. In the efficiency-focused world of food processing, safety is a non-negotiable parameter and must be viewed as the bottom line for sustainability and profitability. Upholding validated safety plans and adhering to regulations are crucial to achieving sustainability goals.

Moreover, any discussion on sustainability is incomplete without a conscious effort to minimize wastage. From processing to logistics, all business functions need to be optimized in this regard.

Automation and AI hold immense potential to address a critical challenge in food sustainability: human error in food processing.

Finally, everyone should have access to adequate and nutritious food, allowing them to lead active and healthy lives. Food business leaders must focus on adopting industry best practices and proven management strategies to successfully untie the knot and lead their businesses to success.

Could you elaborate on an initiative ADM undertook recently to address food sustainability issues?

At ADM, we recognize the need to spread awareness on food safety principles from a moral and a business standpoint. For instance, our team organized a conference in Nigeria themed “Unlocking Nature and Enriching Lives through Food Safety.” The conference served as a common ground for industry leaders, academicians, and representatives from regulatory bodies, helping them initiate meaningful conversations and brainstorm ideas to improve safety measures in Nigeria and across Africa.

The summit showcased ADM’s commitment to food safety within the sub-Saharan region, solidifying our presence in the African market. It served as a platform to inform consumers of the measures we take to ensure the safety of our products, thus resonating with the UN’s guiding principle: “If it’s not safe, it’s not food.”

What emerging best practices or technologies should food sustainability leaders keep an eye on in the coming year?

Automation and AI are poised to revolutionize food manufacturing. These technologies hold immense potential to address a critical challenge in the food sphere: human error in food processing. These errors contribute to a large percentage of the recalled food safety incidents, which can be reduced by integrating automation and AI into the production process. In the long run, fostering a competitive ecosystem that ensures reduced labor costs and increased reliability is integral to food safety.

What would be your advice to peers and aspiring professionals in the food business industry?

The science of food is the science of survival. Unhealthy food has led to illnesses, injuries and even fatalities. Business leaders have to be meticulous and diligent in their actions to ensure quality. Any leader looking to establish a legacy should prioritize consumer safety over commercial gains. The primary principle of food production is that ‘if it is not safe, it is not food.’ The onus is on us to ensure the safety of anything we produce for consumption.