Source: LINCOLN UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
COMMUNITY BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING REACHING NEW AUDIENCES TO HELP SMALL PROCESSORS REACH FSMA COMPLIANCE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1017158
Grant No.
2018-70020-28866
Cumulative Award Amt.
$136,868.00
Proposal No.
2018-05203
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2018
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2021
Grant Year
2018
Program Code
[A4182]- Regional FSMA Center
Recipient Organization
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
820 CHESTNUT ST
JEFFERSON CITY,MO 651023537
Performing Department
Cooperative Reserach
Non Technical Summary
The Lincoln University Food Safety Program will target new audiences of low and limited resource farmers, students and processors addressing the highest needs in recent surveysregarding FSMA. In surveys, delivery of information and services desired includedworkshops, one on one and fact sheets. Top needs for information include soil and water testing requirements and help to reach FSMA compliance. This project addresses the top needsusingmethods identified as top choices by the farmers. We will build upon the successful Produce Safety training already held in Missouri and target processors and those not yet reached - without duplicating efforts. Showing farmers how products including soil and water are sampled for collection and providing the testing will provide a highly requested service leading towards FSMA compliance. Our Innovative Small Farm Outreach Program staff will be trained in FSPC and HACCP. These field staff will then be able to service the small farmers they serve regarding this food safety information. The project manager will become a certified HACCP trainer and lead 4 sessions, for the new audiences, in the two year grant period. Networking will include regulators, NGO's, farmers markets, extension,food hubs and inspectors. Groups will be formed at the community level to empower the farmers to reach compliance. Agriculture students, our future farmers, will also be trained. Sharing information and communication is key to success. We will work closely with the North Central FSMA Regional Training Center to keep them informed, use their materialsand share information. The LU Food Safety website will be modified to include a FSMA site within and have links to all the pertinent agencies and information. The long term goal is to increase FSMA compliance by small and limited resource farmers/processors by providing training, technical assistance and support now and in the future.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
72302102020100%
Knowledge Area
723 - Hazards to Human Health and Safety;

Subject Of Investigation
0210 - Water resources;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering;
Goals / Objectives
Objectives:To provide FSMA food safety hands-on experiences to 200 producers/processors, as community efforts, targeting small low resource farmers and minorities, thus new audiences, by Aug. 2020.To develop and provide water and soil testing services, as a priority identified need, for producers/processors by reaching 10 farmers with this service by Aug. 2020.To empower strong partnerships/networks with inspectors, farmers, food hubs, NGO's and regulatory program personnel (Missouri Dept. of Agriculture) to increase the awareness and understanding of FSMA compliance by developing a network and having 3 meetings in each of 2019 and 2020.To provide food safety classes to 15 Lincoln University (HBUC) agriculture students to improve compliance in their future farming activities by Aug. 2020.To develop and provide a Missouri based website, linking all the agencies, NGO's and opportunities, including materials based on the needs assessment of the target audience and publicize widely, by 2020, reaching over 250 of the target audience.To certify a HACCP trainer to increase trainers available by Sept. 2020.
Project Methods
Methods - Food safety training for producers/processorsThe Manager of this grant and 3 ISFOP staff will seek certification in Food Safety Preventative Controls (FSPC) for Humans in 2019. Once certified, information will be offered close to the targeted audiences. Locations will be determined by past participation in the Produce Safety Training and from the list of farmers provided by the North Central Region Center for Food Safety (NCRCFS). Regulators, inspectors and food safety experts will be available to answer questions and begin networking. The Project Manager will prepare all the logistics for the trainings. Each effort will be evaluated by the standardized evaluations with follow-ups to assess challenges; including the evaluation developed by the NCRCFS. Participants willing to share experiences and challenges will be included in the developing network for future opportunities.Methods - Food Safety Training for Agriculture StudentsLincoln University is a Historic Black University. Our Agriculture and Agribusiness degrees have been graduating between 4 and 14 graduates annually. Of those graduates, most come from a family farm background, most being limited resource and small farms. Expected results are BS agriculture students applying FSMA skills in their future agricultural endeavors. Nearly all graduates continue directly or indirectly with farm work. Food safety is a critical topic for all agriculture graduates. Fifteen students will be provided with a $300 scholarships to attend food safety trainings of their choice.Methods - Farmers Markets/Food HubsRequests will be made to provide educational topics on food safety annually at the annual Missouri Farmers Market meeting. Ideally a booth will be set-up to promote the FSMA, HACCP and FSPC trainings. Interested farmers/processor will be included in food safety networking opportunities. Existing Food Hubs in Missouri will be contacted to gather information. Those Hubs interested in food safety training will be evaluated for feasibility of food safety training offerings. As desired, food safety trainings, information and networking opportunities will be provided. ISFOP staff will be invited to participate and/or take the lead and make recommendations.Methods - Lincoln University - Innovative Small Farm Outreach Program, Food Safety Website and Certified Kitchen and Training CenterLU ISFOP staff will be invited to all food safety events to assist with networking. Four staff will become certified as trainers by attending the HACCP Train-the-Trainer classes. They will be trained in soil/water testing and assists farmers with the collection of samples. The sample will be analyzed in the Food Safety lab and data analyzed for compliance. Historical data will be gathered for compliance greatly furthering the capability for compliance.

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Innovative of Small Farm Outreach Program (ISFOP) team is going to sustain this program and continue to receive training when it is available. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The assistant on this project is now the manager of the commercial kitchen at Lincoln University. She is sharing the training instructions with her clients to be in compliance with HACCP and FSMA. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The department of Innovative of Small Farm Outreach Program (ISFOP) has become a partner to train outreach educators who work directly with farmers. This training will be shared by large number of farmers so they can be in compliance with FSMA. The last student training took place and our graduate students have added skills in this area.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/21

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Provided technical assistance to over 40 small farmersregarding water testing and soil amendments. Water testing became available at local health departments and farmers are provided the information to submit samples. Networking with regulators and inspectors continues. A Food Safety class, Agr 555, was offered at Lincoln University with 6 graduate students attending. Five of those students applied and were awarded scholarships for food safety and Produce Safety training. Clients from the commercial kitchenhave been referred to online HACCP trainings due to COVID and a partnership has been developed with the Missouri Enterprise Program for these and FSMA trainings. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Innovative of Small Farm Outreach Program (ISFOP) team is going to sustain this program and continue to receive training when it is available. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The assistant on this project is now the manager of the commercial kitchen at Lincoln University. She is sharing the training instructions with her clients to be in compliance with HACCP and FSMA. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? In extension, the department of Innovative of Small Farm Outreach Program (ISFOP) has become a partner to train outreach educators who work directly with farmers. This training was extended to two regional areas, southwest and east counties in the state of Missouri. The training included information about compliance with FSMA. Part of the training was providing technical assistance to over 40 farmers regarding water testing and soil amendments. Water testing became available at local health departments and farmers are provided the information to submit samples. In person food safety trainings were cancelled during the last year of the project due to COVID-19, farmers and interested individuals were referred to the food safety trainings that became available online. Networking with regulators and inspectors continues. A Food Safety class, Agr 555, was offered at Lincoln University with 6 graduate students attending. Five of those students applied and were awarded scholarships for food safety and Produce Safety training. A list of the various FSMA trainings and the applicability for the Innovative Small Farm Outreach Program (ISFOP) was provided to the Director of the program, whom developed a food safety conference for this audience whom serve small low resource farmers on site. Clients have been referred to online HACCP trainings due to COVID and a partnership has been developed with the Missouri Enterprise Program for these and FSMA trainings. The Food safety website is being upgraded with links to the North Central Region FSMA Training Center and the Food Safety Clearing House, updates with publications and videos and cross links to regulatory agencies and related. I have presented at the national and regional Food Safety Conferences, online and had 4 meetings with Departments of Health, Agriculture, other universities and private industries. Another major accomplishment under this funding is offering food safety program to clients from the commercial kitchen.

    Publications


      Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

      Outputs
      Target Audience:The target audience are small farmers and processers. Changes/Problems:COVID has created a challenge to keep our timeline. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?3 of the area educators participating in training to further take this knowledge to farmers and processors. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The plans to hold one last workshop to stakeholders.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? The program has experience delay with COVID. We have generated materials for FSMA food safety hands-on experiences. This materials were distributed to producers/processors. Extension team and area educators are assisting with those tasks.

      Publications

      • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: https://bluetigerportal.lincolnu.edu/web/cooperative-research/foodsafety


      Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19

      Outputs
      Target Audience:Small processors and samll farmers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?HACCP training was provided to stakeholders. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Provide FSMA food safety hands-on experiences to 200 producers/processors, as community efforts, targeting small low resource farmers and minorities, thus new audiences, by Aug. 2020. Start and provide water and soil testing services, as a priority identified need, for producers/processors by reaching 10 farmers with this service by Aug. 2020. Continue the strong partnerships/networks with inspectors, farmers, food hubs, NGO's and regulatory program personnel (Missouri Dept. of Agriculture) to increase the awareness and understanding of FSMA compliance by developing a network and having 2 meetings in 2020. To provide food safety classes to 15 Lincoln University (HBUC) agriculture students to improve compliance in their future farming activities by Aug. 2020. To develop and provide a Missouri based website, linking all the agencies, NGO's and opportunities, including materials based on the needs assessment of the target audience and publicize widely, by 2020, reaching over 250 of the target audience. To certify a HACCP trainer to increase trainers available by Sept. 2020.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Started strong partnerships/networks with inspectors, farmers, food hubs, NGO's and regulatory program personnel (Missouri Dept. of Agriculture) to increase the awareness and understanding of FSMA compliance by developing a network and having 1 meetings in each of 2019. 2. Dveloped the website. 3. Attended and provided HACCP training.

      Publications