National Integrated Food
Safety Initiative
The purpose of the National Integrated Food
Safety Initiative is to support competitive
projects that address priority issues in
food safety that are best solved using an
integrated approach.
Integrated food safety programs in CSREES
support multistate, multi-institutional,
multidisciplinary, and multifunctional research,
extension, and education activities. Special
emphasis is given to research describing
multifunctional activities (for example,
research that contains research, education,
and extension components).
- The research component of the
National Integrated Food Safety Initiative
focuses on applied food safety research.
- The education component focuses
on education and training in a formal classroom
setting, which may include elementary,
secondary, undergraduate, or graduate education.
- The extension component addresses
education and training outside of the classroom.
Where there is no extension program, outreach
activities that deliver science-based and
informational education to people in a
variety of nonformal settings are appropriate.
The National Integrated Food Safety Initiative
addresses, but is not limited to, the following
priority issues in food safety:
- Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Assessments
- Control Measures for Foodborne Microbial
Pathogens
- Sources and Incidence of Microbial Pathogens
- Antibiotic Resistant Microbial Pathogens
- Improving the Safety of Fresh Fruits
and Vegetables
- National Coordination of Integrated Food
Safety Programs and Resources
- Food Handler Education and Training for
Consumers and Youth
- Food Handler Education for High-risk
and Hard-to-reach Audiences
- Food Handler Education for Commercial
and Noncommercial Audiences, Including
Food Handler Certification Training and
Other Train-the-Trainer Programs
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control
Points (HACCP) Model Development, Testing,
and Implementation
- Home Food Processing and Preservation
- Integrating Food Safety into Related
Agricultural Programs
- Alternative Food Processing Technologies
that Improve the Safety of Food
- Food Security
The National Integrated Food Safety Initiative
is a component of the Integrated Research,
Education, and Extension Competitive Grants
Program (IREECGP). The program is administered
by CSREES under Title IV, Section 406 of
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) (7
U. S. C. 7626). The National Integrated Food
Safety Initiative replaces the Food Safety
and Quality National Education Initiative
(FSQ) and the Special Research Grant for
Food Safety. These programs were discontinued
in Fiscal Year 2000.
Those eligible to apply for grants include
faculty at all 4-year accredited colleges
and universities. The Request for Application
(RFA) is usually announced via the Web site
and a national electronic distribution list
in February or March of each year, and proposals
are due 8 weeks following the release of
the RFA. Awards are disseminated in September
of each year.
For information on how to write an integrated food safety proposal check the Tip
Sheet for Integrated Food Safety Proposals.
For additional information about the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative,
contact Jan
Singleton, national program leader, food science and food safety, or Jodi
Williams , program specialist, food science and food safety.
Resources
National Integrated Food Safety Initiative
- Funded Projects
Food Safety Contacts
Requests for Application
See the Funding
Opportunities section.
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