The overarching goal of this project is to support the infrastructure of the national food safety program by communicating and coordinating information within the North Central Region (NCR) related to the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and Preventive Control Rule.
The NCR FSMA Center has been funded by several rounds of funding through the FDA and USDA. The current grant funding runs through August 2024.
The specific objectives of the 2021-2024 grant are:
Objective 1: Expand the produce safety network within the NCR
- Partnership building with organizations within states
- Stakeholder feedback boards of niche audiences
- Communication plan for audiences
- Smaller group events and larger group events
- Track participation
- Produce Centers and National Produce Network meetings will continue
Objective 2: Collaborate with and support the NCR produce safety network partners
- Increase collaboration efforts
- Support produce trainings (expand efforts)
- Support produce trainers (funding and people)
- Support FSOP projects
- More collaboration with other centers and programs
Objective 3: Create, modify, and validate safety training programs based on a needs assessment
- Informal needs assessment of training materials
- Modify and develop materials based on the needs assessment
- New materials reviewed and disseminated
Objective 4: Professional development of and technical assistance
- Deliver new food safety materials to growers, processors, and educators
- Provide technical assistance to produce safety network
The specific objectives of the 2018-2021 grant were:
- Objective 1: Expand the successfully established produce safety network within the NCR
- Objective 2: Develop and implement a communication system
- Objective 3: Support for Food Safety Outreach Program Awards
- Objective 4: Review of FSMA add-on materials and alternative curricula
- Objective 5: Professional development for a cadre of regional FSMA trainers
- Objective 6: Technical assistance to growers, processors, and vendors in the NCR
In partnership with educators, regulators, growers and food processors in all 12 states (Stakeholder Engagement), these objectives were achieved by expanding the regional produce safety network, supporting FSOP grant awardees, and providing training for regional FSMA stakeholders. The team built on the existing educational infrastructure specific to the NCR (Systems Approach) to leverage existing relationships with the other regional centers, local food and tribal centers, FDA, USDA, the State Departments of Agriculture, and other existing relationships. We supported and reviewed the development of add-on material and alternative curricula by FSOP awardees and extended technical assistance to the target audiences of growers, processors, vendors, and FSMA trainers.
National Collaboration
NCR FSMA will coordinate with the Lead Regional Coordination Center (LRCC) as led by Dr. Keith Schneider of the University of Florida (Southern) and regional centers by Elizabeth Newbold of University of Vermont (Northeast) and Dr. David Stone of Oregon State University (Western) to:
- Develop and execute an effective national communication plan;
- Identify national outputs and impacts developed by FSOP awardees;
- Review FSMA add-on material, alternative curricula, and additional materials developed by FSOP awardees; and
- Report outcomes, best practices, impact stories, and other evaluation metrics to LRCC for national stakeholder reporting.
Each regional center will takes lead of one component in collaboration with the LRCC as outlined in in the table below to review add-on materials and alternative curricula developed via FSOP awardees and others, market newly developed materials, and create impact stories.
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Lead Regional Coordination Center National communication and collaboration plan National technical assistance platform Frequently asked questions platform Coordination of evaluators from all centers Develop evaluation matrix Assist with development of add-on material review matrix Assist with development of alternative curricula review matrix |
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Information Management Clearinghouse Assist with the development of national impact stories |
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Coordinate National Add-On Material Review: Development of add-on material review matrix with LRCC Coordinate the review and approval of add-on material |
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Coordinate National Produce Safety Alliance and Preventive Control Alternative Curricula Review Development of alternative curricula review matrix with LRCC Coordinate the review and approval of alternative curricula material Develop national impact stories related to FSMA |
Achieving these objectives through a team-based approach will result in long-term impacts on the region and the nation, reducing the incidences of foodborne illness, and laying the groundwork for a safer food supply
Questions? Email us at NCRFSMA@iastate.edu
This work is supported by the Food Safety Outreach Program [grant no. 2018-70020-28877 and grant no. 2021-70020-35732] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.