Open challenges for ecological and microbiological safety of food and raw food materials in Azerbaijan

Purpose The provision of safe food is a topic of increasing relevance worldwide. Several countries, including Azerbaijan, attempted to develop scientific, applied, social and economic solutions to the food supply and nutrition problems. However, Azerbaijan still faces important challenges, particularly providing appropriate, eco-friendly and microbiologically safe supplies and food. These issues occur in international export and import of raw food materials and food, provision of regional and municipal control in food supply and sales and teaching food culture to the public. This viewpoint paper aims to examine the challenges that impede the provision of safe food for Azerbaijan. Such information can facilitate policy implications for governments in developing solutions to the food supply. Design/methodology/approach Extensive literature review is done to base the discussions of this viewpoint paper. Findings Academic institutions and departments should take a more centralized and effective effort in scientific research concerning safety, hygiene and culture of nutrition. In conclusion, to ensure proper sustainment, it is necessary to provide strict microbiological, sanitary and hygienic control across the network of production and distribution of food and its import and export within regional and local food source provision systems and mechanisms. Originality/value To the authors’ best knowledge, there is no systematic study evaluating the challenges of ecologically and microbiological safety for food in Azerbaijan.