In a groundbreaking collaboration, the foremost conference for vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture (CEA), Indoor Ag-Con, is set to team up with Ceres University, renowned for its IACET-accredited food safety education and certification. Together, they will host a CEA Food Safety Workshop on the eve of the 2024 Indoor Ag-Con, slated for March 11-12 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. The workshop, an ‘Internal Review Class’, is scheduled for March 10, 2024, between 1-5 pm. This class aims to equip industry professionals with essential knowledge and training to meet the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements for internal auditing certification.
Dubbed “Indoor Ag-Con 2024’s CEA Food Safety Workshop”, the event is centered around internal audit certification, a prerequisite of the GFSI. This certification serves as proof of an individual’s competence in conducting internal assessments for food safety programs. The implementation and upkeep of a strong internal audit system can significantly improve food safety and quality processes via actionable enhancements. The workshop will shed light on best practices and pitfalls to avoid for successful programs, as shared by Food Science professors at the GFSI level.
Indoor Ag-Con’s CEO, Brian Sullivan, expressed excitement at adding the vital CEA Food Safety Workshop to their expanding array of educational programs. He stressed the importance of food safety in the rapidly advancing CEA industry and emphasized their partnership with Ceres University as a testament to their commitment to equipping participants with the skills necessary to meet international standards.
President of Ceres University, Karl Kolb, Ph.D., reciprocated the sentiment. He spoke of their alliance with Indoor Ag-Con as a thrilling chance to bolster professionals in the CEA sector with the knowledge and abilities needed to achieve and sustain optimum food safety standards. The workshop, he assured, would offer participants tried and tested tools and insights to augment their internal audit procedures and foster perpetual enhancements in their operations.
The workshop, priced at $575, includes a four-hour workshop with course materials, eligibility to earn up to 3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon completion, and an Indoor Ag-Con Expo Hall Only Pass. This pass provides access to the Expo Floor on March 11-12, 2024, admission to all Indoor Ag-Con Expo Theater presentations, Expo Floor Welcome Happy Hour, and access to the expo floor of the National Grocers Association (NGA) Show, taking place simultaneously at Caesars Forum.
Dr. Karl Kolb, president of Ceres University and Ceres Certifications, International (CCI), and Kellie Worrell, GlobalG.A.P. Scheme Manager at CCI, will be instructing the workshop. Both have extensive experience in their respective fields, contributing a wealth of knowledge to the workshop.
The workshop is aimed at CEA industry professionals committed to upholding the highest food safety and quality standards, including food safety managers, quality assurance professionals, compliance officers, and executives keen on safeguarding their brand’s reputation.
The participants can look forward to mastering various skills during the workshop, including organizing an internal auditing program, risk-based approaches, training teams to become food safety advocates, effectively documenting findings, conducting interviews, identifying root causes, and more.
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