Scientific Challenges and Cost-Effective Management of Risks Associated with Implementation of Produce Safety Regulations

Many studies have addressed specific aspects of pathogen contamination and control in produce production, but most have focused on a single step in the food chain or a single pathogen in a single crop. This project forms an integrative framework applicable to different food-pathogen combinations to support produce safety decisions.

This research project involves a consortium of researchers and extension specialists from 9 land grant universities and one federal agency. It will provide unique expertise for examining food safety strategies and methodologies across multiple geographic regions to address the need for systematic validation of food safety metrics.

A research team of this magnitude provides the foundation for a truly integrated research project achieving short-, medium- and long-term performance metrics, establishing decision points related to specific research and extension activity areas, and interacting with stakeholders, including coordination and organization of the Produce Advisory Committee (PAC).