Progress 09/01/15 to 02/28/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences reached include various stakeholders in organic agriculture and produce food safety, including organic farmers, researchers, extension specialists, extension agents, policy makers, experts and industry working in organic agriculture. They were reached as part of the listening sessions, workshops and informal education activities delivered through presentations at national and international meetings and conferences. In particular, many stakeholders were exposed to our research findings at the 1) 2017 Organic Confluences, Making Research Count, Washington, D.C. May 22-23, 2017; 2) International Association for Food Protection 2017 Annual Meeting (IAFP); Tampa, Florida July 9-12, 2017 and 3) Soil Summit 2017, Produce Safety Alliance & Institute for Food Safety at Cornell University. New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY. March 28-29, 2017. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided support for graduate research, thus helping to build capacity for future professionals in epidemiology and food safety. Dr. Pires mentored Jerome Baron, PhD student in Epidemiology at UC Davis. Baron managed the data, conducted statistical analysis and prepare the manuscript. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through outreach activities involving organic farmers, researchers, extension specialists, extension agents, policy makers, experts and industry working in organic agriculture. They were reached as part of the listening sessions, workshops and informal education activities delivered through presentations at national and international meetings and conferences. In particular, many stakeholders were exposed to our research findings at the: 1) 2017 Organic Confluences, Making Research Count, Washington, D.C. May 22-23, 2017; 2) International Association for Food Protection 2017 Annual Meeting (IAFP); Tampa, Florida July 9-12, 2017; 3) Soil Summit 2017, Produce Safety Alliance & Institute for Food Safety at Cornell University. New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY. March 28-29, 2017; and 4) The Organic Center, Board Members Annual Meeting, Davis, CA. October 26, 2016. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Certified organic producers use animal-based soil amendments (e.g., manure and compost) to improve soil fertility and quality. The prevention of microbial contamination of crops has been based on time-interval criteria between the application of soil amendments and crop harvesting. However, the current standards are based on little scientific information that shows that waiting time intervals between the use of soil amendment and the harvest reduce the microbial risk. This project assessed the current practices used by the organic industry related to manure and compost use and rotational grazing to identify potential food safety risks related to microbial contamination and potential threats to the public health. This project evaluated and characterized the needs of organic producers using three evaluation tools: listening sessions, workshop,focus groups and a survey. This project provided critical information that can be incorporated into guidelines aimed toward developing research on risk mitigation of foodborne pathogens for organic and sustainable agriculture. This project was used as the basis for a full 2017 OREI multi-regional proposal project (award # 2016-51300-25724). Objective 1: Listening Sessions:Research needs listening sessions were hosted across the US, at organic conferences (8 total) frequently attended by farmers, handlers, and industry members. Overall, participants concluded that there is a clear need to conduct more research on wait periods between raw manure application and harvest to help shape policy such as FDA's Produce Safety Rule. Additionally, outreach and extension to assist organic farmers was identified as a critical need. Objective 2: Workshop:A 1.5-day workshop at UC Davis brought together more than 30 participants including producers and other industry members, regulators, researchers, extension specialists and experts from across the country to discuss use of biological soil amendments and food safety in organic systems. In addition to principals on this project, participants included: FDA's Division of Produce Safety and Division of Risk and Decision Analysis, Association of Compost Producers, CA Food & Agriculture Dept. among others. Overall, participants concluded that there is a clear need to conduct more research on wait periods between raw manure application and harvest to help shape policy such as FDA's Produce Safety Rule. Additionally, outreach and extension to assist organic farmers was identified as a critical need. Objective 3: Survey:In a nationwide survey conducted to assess current practices related to the use of biological soil amendment of animal origin (BSAAOs) and food safety risks in organic and sustainable agriculture with a focus on produce (e.g., vegetables, nuts and fruits) commodities covered under the Produce Safety Rule. Organic farmers belonging to national and state organizations were invited (by email and mail) to participate in a survey to acquire information regarding the practices of animal-based soil amendments and animal rotational grazing. Eighty-two percent of the participant producers were certified organic and represent relatively small-medium size farms (65.9% in less than 80 acres). Biological soil amendments containing animal manure (including raw, untreated and treated manure and compost) were applied by 46.8% of producers growing produce that is typically consumed fresh. Fifty-eight percent of the farmers reported the use of raw manure, being poultry, cattle and horses the main animal sources. This survey showed that multiple factors related to on-farm manure management practices (e.g., sources, storage, type of treatment, application method, application time, etc.), which may affect directly survival and persistence of pathogens in manure-amended soils, varies between regions and states in the U.S. Therefore, the mitigation practices to decrease the risk of potential microbial contamination to fresh produce crops resulting from application of untreated manure must take into account the multiple factors that may be involved. This survey provides a framework for microbial risk mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of contamination of fresh produce in systems using BSAAOs, mainly untreated manure in organic and sustainable agriculture.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Pires AFA, Jay-Russell M. The use of biological soil amendments of animal origin in organic agriculture and food safety risks. Abstract Poster #10. In: Proceedings from The 97th Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD), Chicago, IL. December 4- 6, 2016.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Pires A, Jay-Russell M. Soil Summit 2017, Produce Safety Alliance & Institute for Food Safety at Cornell University.Participant. New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY. March 28-29, 2017.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Pires A, Jay-Russell M. May 23, 2017. Integrative Research: Approaches in Organic Agriculture. Case Study3: Manure Safety Panel. Invited Speaker. 2017 Organic Confluences. Making Research Count, Washington, D.C. May 22-23, 2017
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Pires A, Tocco P, Millner P. A Research Framework to Assess Pathogen Prevalence and Survival in Raw Manure Used in Produce Production in Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin and the Food Safety Modernization Act: Challenges and Opportunities Going Forward. International Association for Food Protection 2017 Annual Meeting (IAFP); Tampa, Florida July 9-12, 2017; Tampa, Florida July 9-12, 2017. (S27, Seminar).
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Pires A, Jay-Russell, M. October 26, 2016. Manure Use and Food Safety Risks: Research Updates. Invited Speaker. The Organic Center, Board Members Annual Meeting, Davis, CA. October 26, 2016
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