four corners food safety & security group3/9/07 kansas city working group food safety &...

3/9/07 Kansas City Working Group Four Corners Food Safety & Security Group

Food Safety & Security Group

Participants (current):

Iowa State University

Kansas State Univeristy

University of Iowa

University of Kansas

University of Missouri

University of Nebraska

Potential Participants:

Midwest Research Institute

USDA Meat Animal Research Center

National Animal Disease Center

USDA-ARS

National Veterinary Service Lab

Center for Veterinary Biologics

KC Area Animal Health Industry

Danforth Plant Science Center

National Plant Disease Diagnostic Network

National Alliance for Food Safety & Security

USDA Food Safety Consortium


The Next Frontier in Biology


Grand Challenges to Agencies (5-10 years):

1. Protecting America’s Food/Ag Critical Infrastructure• Natural threats• Intentionally introduced threats• Water, energy, by-product challenges relating to food/ag (interact with

other Four Corner groups)

2. Protecting America’s Public Health & Economy• As it relates to food/ag threats• Policy development and implementation• Interdisciplinary scientific and social sciences coordination

3. Proper Selection and Application of Technological Advancements• Development followed by scientific and operational validation• Best science available and usage impacts (i.e. safety of

nanosciences)• Public and industrial acceptance; regulatory approvals; dual and

multiple-use


Four Corners FSS Vision

Environmental Genomics of FSS

Develop and Validation of

Technologies and Processes

Public Policy and Decision-Making, Communications, Cyberinformatics

and Education

Four Corners Food/Agriculture Safety & Security

Integrated solutions to food/ag safety and security issues

Coordinating with other Four Corners groups as the inter-relations affect food/ag safety and security

Focused areas of expertise across Four Corners institutions

Concentrating on what we currently know or have, and where are the gaps in information, resources, and applications.

Seed resources to gain sustainable resources.


Infrastructure Needs:

Needed Infrastructure:• Regional Metabolomics Laboratory to enhance existing capabilities (i.e. high-

throughput capabilities).

• Large animal facilities (new or enhancement of current facilities)

• Cyberinfrastructure

• Regional Aerobiology Laboratory dedicated to Food/Ag research needs

• Research and support staffing (a priority need)

• Facilitation and coordination faculty to blend Four Corners activities

• Research staff (faculty and technicians)

• Student support

• Operating dollars

• Aerobiology research laboratories

• Sample archiving resources


Themes

THEME 1: Ecological genomics of food associated environments

• Genomic evolution and understanding selective pressures & stresses on pathogens

• Interactions of natural flora with pathogens and effect on public health/food safety

• Effects of ag/food practices• Ecological genomics of foodborne diseases • Ecological genomics of healthy foods


Themes

THEME 2: Food/Agriculture Technology Development & Validation:

• Globalization of food trade driver• Standardization of production and validation efforts• Center of Excellence


Themes

THEME 3: Public Policy, Communications, Cyberinformatics and Education

• Surveillance • Information collection and dissemination

– Risk analysis– Communication

• Cyber infrasctructure• Decision-making and impacting policy• Public education and outreach


Ecological Genomics of FSS

Lead UNL and MU (Andy Benson, George Stewart)– Growing strength in microbial ecology

• Ecological Genomics Group (KSU)• Unique Containment Facilities (KSU, MU, ISU)• Quantitative Genetics and Statistics Groups at all participating

universities• Three colleges of veterinary medicine and three medical schools• Four food science / human nutrition programs (UNL, KSU, ISU, MU)


Validation of Technologies

Lead KSU and UNL (Randy Phebus, Reddi Thippareddi)– Unique food processing and ag containment facility (BRI)– Complete production through consumption capabilities

within BSL 2,3 and 3 Ag containment

• Other processing and containment facilities (ISU, UNL)

• USDA-ARS MARC (Clay Center, NE)

• Great interactions and support of food industry and technology providers

• Existing interactions among participants in this area

– Food Safety Consortium

– Joint educational and degree or certificate program initiatives

• Ties and collaborations with regulatory and consumer groups

• Food irradiation facility (ISU)


Public Policy, Communications, Cyberinformatics and Education

Lead ISU and MU (Ted MacDonald, Glen Cameron)– Emphasis on risk assessment and communications in food

and agriculture

• Each institution has resources devoted to food/ag policy and economics• Schools of journalism and ag communications (ISU, KSU, UNL, MU, UI)• Communication of contentious issues and dispute resolution (MU, ISU,

UNL)• Emergency and crisis management• National Agricultural and Biosecurity Center (KSU)• Food Safety Network (KSU)• Law Schools (KU, MU, UI, UNL)


Impediments

• Competition related to athletics within Four Corners institutions!

• Despite its importance, food safety and security issues tend to fall between the cracks of federal funding programs currently

• USDA funding is inadequate to meet huge national challenges

• Information storage, management and utilization infrastructure

• True integration of Four Corners activities within FSS group and sustainability of the initiative

• Selling the concept of Four Corners to others at our respective institutions and generating sustainable enthusiasm and buy-in (particularly protecting needs/interests of young faculty).

• Defining a clear mechanism to facilitate and reward personnel involvement across universities

• Lack of investigator initiated funding streams for food safety and animal health in the USDA programs


SUSTAINABILITY

• Assuming that we get initial seed funding, the team interactions developed will generate sustaining funding (with a certain level of baseline funding needed to maintain core staffing)

• Technology and validation theme will generate substantial private sector infusion of resources

• These issues are not declining in importance nationally and internationally…area will continue to increase in importance over next decade or longer

• Growing private sector focus in these areas within our region

• We will have a goal to change certain funding policies within agencies to better support programs and research opportunities


Significant Competitors

We are not aware of other groups who are trying to develop these 3 themes into a comprehensive alliance

Individually, or on smaller scale:

• Washington University (Jeff Gordon) in gut ecology (perhaps should be a Four Corners partner)

• USDA-ARS research groups (want them to be collaborators and not competitors)


Added Values of this Alliance

• Can’t be done any other way!• 4 states involved are national leaders in agriculture and public

health– Our political leadership is highly committed to this area and very

influential• The 3 “themes” within FSS group are highly integrated and

complimentary, and further, are complimentary to other Four Corners groups


Why important at present time?

• National / International focus on protecting food/ag infrastructure

– Increased resources being directed to this focus (at least components of it) by government, states, private sector and our universities

• Increased interests in healthy and safe lifestyles, and the relation of food in human health

• Globalization of the food supply dictating these programs (science and policy)

four corners food safety & security group3/9/07 kansas city working group food safety &...

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