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Questionnaire on Intelligent food assurance systems

Participant Information Sheet

You are being invited to take part in a study about intelligent food assurance systems. This information sheet will provide you with the introduction and purpose of the research so that you can decide whether to participate. If there is anything that is unclear or you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for reading this participant information sheet.
We want the views of different stakeholders in the food system with the aim of understanding the current barriers to a smart food system; and to gather your thoughts on where we can make a difference and change the food system in the future.
There are 2 sections and 15 sub-questions to complete for this questionnaire and at the end of the survey you will be asked if you would like to take part in a follow-up discussion on this topic. If you are interested, you will be guided to register your interest. This form is not linked in any way to the data collection for this survey.
Your data will be processed anonymously to keep your personal information secure. Your participation in this survey is voluntary. You may exit the study at any time by closing your browser window. If you withdraw from the questionnaire before clicking the final submit button, your data will be deleted and will not be included in the final data analysis.
We would like to thank you in advance for your valuable time and contribution to this study.
What is the purpose of the study?

An Intelligent Food Assurance System will be the introduction of digital technologies based on traditional assurance techniques, designed to protect food by combining assurance tools for food quality, safety, fraud and defence, making the whole system smarter and more agile. The system will be developed to ensure the quality and safety of food products through the efficient use of chain-wide information at all ends of the food chain in operational management, and to enable risk prediction and rapid risk treatment. Overall, the aim of this study is to explore the added value of intelligent technologies in addressing the common opportunities and challenges offered to food assurance and to identify the skills, training and competencies required to successfully implement and maintain intelligent food assurance systems.
Why have I been chosen?

You have been identified as a relevant person in the food industry, including but not limited to agriculture, food academic research, food testing and food business. Your participation in this study will provide valuable insights into the potential implementation and adoption of intelligent food assurance systems.
Do I have to take part?

Participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may have any reason not to participate in the study or to withdraw in the middle of it. If you decide to participate, you will be given this information sheet and will need to sign a consent form before you can participate. The decision to withdraw at any stage will not affect the standard of data protection conditions that you receive.
What will happen to me if I take part?

This questionnaire will take between 15-30 minutes and will be conducted online. If you agree to attend a further interview, we will contact you to schedule the interview and send you an outline of the semi-structured interview prior to the interview. Semi-structured interviews can take up to 45 minutes and you can choose to do them online or in person. The online interviews will preferably be conducted through MS Teams, with the alternative use of Zoom. With your consent, the survey data will be used for this study and stored as an encrypted file on the researcher's computer with a password. There may also be an opportunity to participate in a workshop if you are interested. The workshop will be organized with other participants and will provide an opportunity for you to share your ideas, discuss with others, and collaborate on the development of intelligent food assurance systems.
What are the possible risks or disadvantages of taking part?

This survey may involve your personal and employment information and you have the right to keep sensitive information confidential and to choose not to answer the relevant questions. We will keep all information about you and your organisation anonymous in the output and protect the security of your data. You may immediately terminate your participation in the study for any reason during the course of the survey.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?

By participating in this study, you will have the opportunity to share your insights and perspectives on the potential implementation of intelligent food assurance systems in the food industry. Furthermore, you may be informed of any new findings or developments that emerge from the study. Your input will be essential to informing the design and development of such systems, potentially contributing to enhancing food quality and safety in the industry.
What if I want to withdraw from the survey?

Participants may withdraw from the survey at any time. You don't need to give reasons and can close the questionnaire page at any time.
What if something goes wrong?

If you have any concerns about any aspect of the research, you can contact the researcher, Jiaqi ZhOU (email: jzhou18@qub.ac.uk) or the Principal Investigator of the study Prof Katrina Campbell (Katrina.campbell@qub.ac.uk). If you remain dissatisfied and wish to make a formal complaint, you can contact the Research Governance Team at Queen's University Belfast (Tel: 028 9097 2529; email: researchgovernance@qub.ac.uk).
Will my taking part in this study be kept confidential?

Your participation in this study will be kept confidential. Your personal and employment information will only be used for the purposes of this study and will not be shared with anyone outside of the research team. The data collected will be reported in aggregate form, meaning that individual responses will not be identifiable. Only the research team will have access to the data, and they will ensure that all data is kept confidential and secure.
What will happen to the results of the research?

The results of the study will potentially be published. A summary of the results may be provided to participants at the end of the study and if you are interested in further information, you should not hesitate to contact the study researcher, Jiaqi Zhou (email: jzhou18@qub.ac.uk) or the Principal Investigator of the study Prof Katrina Campbell (Katrina.campbell@qub.ac.uk).
Who is organising and funding the research?

The research was conducted for the purpose of obtaining an educational qualification (e.g., a PhD) and was not supported by organisational funding.
Who has reviewed the study?

This study has been reviewed by the Faculty of Medicine, Health & Life Sciences (MHLS) Research Ethics Committees.
Contact for Further Information

Jiaqi Zhou
Email: jzhou18@qub.ac.uk

Chief Investigator: Katrina Campbell
Email: Katrina.campbell@qub.ac.uk
This research will be conducted in compliance with data protection legislation. For more information about how we look after your information, how to access your rights and who to contact if you have any queries or concerns about data protection please visit the Queen’s University Belfast website - www.qub.ac.uk/privacynotice/Research/ListofResearchPrivacyNotices/PrivacyNoticeforResearchParticipants
Thank you for your interest in this study and for taking the time to read through this information sheet.
1.I have already read the participant information sheet and agree to take part in this survey.(Required.)