Center for Interdepartmental Research on Food Safety (CRISA)

The Center for Interdepartmental Food Safety Research (CRISA), founded in 2024, has shaped a decade-long collaboration between the Departments of Law and Life Sciences. CRISA staff work on issues related to the world of food: from field to table, from food contact materials (e.g., packaging) to health or commercial fraud, and far beyond. Its interdepartmental structure makes it possible to enhance the interaction and cross-fertilization between jurists, scientists in general and food technologists, offering, in addition to research, dissemination, training and consulting activities to companies.

The first mission of CRISA is precisely research. A modern vision of university research is promoted in this field, and members are committed to participating in local, national and European food-related projects. The second mission is teaching: the Center promotes the establishment of Master's and Postgraduate Courses in the field of food. In recent years, the Level I Master's Degree in “Food Law, Business and Safety” (DISA) was founded, registering an excellent success, and after two editions was transformed into an Advanced Course. Last but not least, the third mission of the Center is business consulting: in fact, CRISA engages in food consulting (legal and scientific) in order to obtain funds to be redeployed in scientific research. In this field it provides companies (small, medium and large) operating in the world of agribusiness with highly qualified consultants such as university professors, food technologists, lawyers and Ph.D.'s.

Every CRISA activity is supported exclusively by contributions from research, training, business consulting and private funds.

To date, the Center's various activities include the research project, recently funded by the University Research Fund (FOMO line), entitled: “ALIMENTA: Agrifood and Health Protection: Managing Risks in Small and Medium-sized food Enterprises in Modena.”