Recipient Organization
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
(N/A)
BROOKINGS,SD 57006
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Salmonellais a major cause of foodborne illness in the United States with many infections resulting from meat products.Salmonellacontrol has been hindered by a lack of cross-disciplinary, applied research. Due to an increasing need forSalmonellacontrol in meat and poultry production, the USDA's Agricultural Research Service has developed aSalmonellaGrand Challenge (SGC) consisting of a diverse group of scientists, industry stakeholders, and university collaborators. The goal of the SGC is to provide meat and poultry producers actionable data, standardized methods, and effective intervention tools to reduceSalmonellaassociated with meat and poultry products. Due to the diverse group of collaborators in various locations, the SGC has not had the opportunity to meet and work in person. Therefore, we are applying to the Food Safety and Defense Conference Grant to bring together the SGC and collaborators for the first time.The specific goals of our meeting are facilitating the SGC to meet in person to build relationships and collaborations through networking; updating stakeholders and collaborators on research progress through research presentations; and development of research plans and goals for the SGC using the valuable input of stakeholders and collaborators during feedback sessions. This conference will allow us to share research and develop collaborations which directly address priorities such as developing new tools and methods forSalmonellaresearch and developing new technologies to reduce the presence ofSalmonella.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this workshop is to convene the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)SalmonellaGrand Challenge Synergies team, stakeholders, and collaborators in person for the first time to enhance planning, integration, and communication of our research. The goal of theSalmonellaGrand Challenge (SGC) is to provide stakeholders actionable data, standardized methods, effective, affordable interventions, and implementable decision support tools to reduceSalmonellaassociated with food animals and meat and poultry products.The goal of our workshop is three-fold:(1) Facilitate theSalmonellaGrand Challenge team to meet in person for the first time.The SGC currently represents 25 ARS and 12 University scientists across twelve locations. Due to physical separation, all meetings and collaborative work to date has been virtual. The opportunity to convene in person is critical to relationship building and collaboration between the team of researchers. We will incorporate facilitated team building exercises to prioritize research and identify actionable outcomes for the 2- and 5-year time range.(2) Update stakeholders and collaborators on research progress.In addition to the USDA-ARS researchers, our SGC involves collaborators and stakeholders: diagnostics and analytics companies, commodity associations, university collaborators (many with NIFA grants with ARS), USDA Economic Research Service, including our four-person Industry Advisory Board. We will use this opportunity to present our first year of progress to stakeholders and collaborators and receive constructive feedback.(3) Fine-tune research plans, collaborations, and next steps for theSalmonellaGrand Challenge.We will hold a series of brainstorming sessions to engage the SGC team, our stakeholders, and collaborators to refine our deliverables, fill gaps, identify priorities, solicit feedback and participation for research, pilot projects, and fine-tune SGC goals and timelines. Team building exercises will build project cohesion and have the goal of identifying novel approaches and next steps to full fill the goals of the SGC.
Project Methods
The workshop will be planned and organized by theSalmonellaGrand Challenge (SGC) Steering Committee as well as a meeting facilitator. The Steering Committee includes:Dr. Kim Cook, National Program Leader, Nutrition Food Safety/Quality, USDA-ARSDr. Tommy Wheeler, Research Leader, Meat Safety and Quality, USDA-ARSDr. Shawn Bearson, Research Microbiologist, Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens, USDA-ARSDr. John Schmidt, Research Microbiologist, Meat Safety and Quality, USDA-ARSDr. John Brooks, Research Microbiologist, Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture, USDA-ARSDr. Allen Byrd, Research Microbiologist, Food and Feed Safety, USDA-ARSDr. Tatum Katz, SCINet Postdoctoral Fellow, Meat Safety and Quality, USDA-ARSOur Grand Challenge team, university collaborators, and industry stakeholders will convene at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, MD over a three-day period to network, present research findings, receive input, and further develop SGC research goals and objectives in a think tank design. The goal of our workshop is three-fold:(1) Facilitate theSalmonellaGrand Challenge team to meet in person for the first time.The SGC currently represents 25 ARS and 12 University scientists across twelve locations. Due to physical separation, all meetings and collaborative work to date has been virtual. The opportunity to convene in person is critical to relationship building and collaboration between the team of researchers. We will incorporate facilitated team building exercises to prioritize research and identify actionable outcomes for the 2- and 5-year time range.(2) Update stakeholders and collaborators on research progress.In addition to the USDA-ARS researchers, our SGC involves collaborators and stakeholders: diagnostics and analytics companies, commodity associations, university collaborators (many with NIFA grants with ARS), USDA-ERS, including our four-person Industry Advisory Board. We will use this opportunity to present our first year of progress to stakeholders and collaborators and receive constructive feedback.(3) Fine-tune research plans, collaborations, and next steps for theSalmonellaGrand Challenge.We will hold a series of brainstorming sessions to engage the SGC team, our stakeholders, and collaborators to refine our deliverables, fill gaps, identify priorities, solicit feedback and participation for research, pilot projects, and fine-tune SGC goals and timelines. Team building exercises will build project cohesion and have the goal of identifying novel approaches and next steps to full fill the goals of the SGC.Schedule of EventsThe workshop will take place from April 23rdto April 25th, 2024. The workshop will be tailored for the SGC team to optimally engage with our university, biopharmaceutical, and industry partners. Each day is devoted to key stakeholder groups and collaborators in an intimate and confidential setting to maximize interaction and participation to address key topics of the SGC.Day One - University collaboratorsWelcome from ARS leadershipKeynote from University CollaboratorsPotential speakers:Mindy Brashers, Associate Vice President of Research, Professor and Endowed Chair of Food Safety and Public Health, Texas Tech UniversityMarcos Sanchez-Plata, Associate Professor of Global Food Security, Texas Tech UniversitySara Gragg, Associate Professor of Food Safety and Food Microbiology, Kansas State UniversityBing Wang, Associate Professor of Food Safety and Microbiology, University of Nebraska-LincolnNikki Shariat, Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, University of GeorgiaGuided discussion on keynote addressShort research talks on 1. Tools, 2. Critical control points, and 3. InterventionsImpediments for successfulSalmonellareductionHow to cost- and labor-effectively quantify Salmonella and pathogenicitySalmonella pre-harvest environmentsQ&ALunchComprehensive presentation from ARS on first year's accomplishmentsDiscussion breakouts organized by objectives (1. Tools and methods, 2. Critical control points, 3. Interventions)Group report out and discussion on breakout discoveriesDay Two - Detection and risk assessment companiesWelcome and review of the previous day byARS leadershipKeynote from Scientific VendorsPotential speakers: Hygiena, bioMérieux, Neogen, Bio-Rad, EpiX, Arm and HammerGuided discussion on keynote addressShort talks on 4. Data analytics 5. CommunicationsEco/evo modeling in the world ofSalmonellaStatistical process controlRisk analysisQ&ALunchDiscussion breakouts organized by objectives (4. Data analytics and 5. Communications)Group report out and discussion on breakout discoveriesDay Three -Industry Advisory Board and association representativesWelcome and review of previous day by ARS leadershipKeynote from industry stakeholdersPotential speakers:Shanice Krombeen, Sr. Quality Assurance Manager, Pilgrim's Pride Corp.Tom Smith, Vice President of Quality Management, Jennie-O Turkey StoreBen Holland, Director of Research and Operations Analysis, Cactus FeedeersAaron Asmus, Director of Lab Services and Refrigerated Foods Product Development, Hormel Foods Corp.KatieRose McCullough, Director of Science and Public Health, North American Meat InstituteGuided discussion on keynote addressBrainstorm research gaps and fine tune future plansLunchGroup discussion to outline goals and needs for next year of the SGCTakeaways and wrap up from Industry Advisory BoardCommunications and DisseminationDue to the small and specific nature of this workshop, we will not broadly announce the workshop but rather invite specific groups and individuals to attend via email. Select sessions, such as the keynote addresses, will be recorded and posted to theSalmonellaGrand Challenge website through the National Agricultural Library. Further, the workshop will lay the groundwork to produce our one-year annual progress report which will be submitted to ARS Grand Challenge leadership. Select accomplishments as well as a list of publications from this progress report will also be available on our website.