Key Takeaways:
- Haley Oliver, professor of food science at Purdue University, has received $10 million in funding from USAID to extend the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety (FSIL).
- FSIL works to improve food safety in six countries, focusing on preventing illnesses caused by microbial pathogens in perishable foods.
- The next phase will target policy development and food safety behavior change in Cambodia, Nepal, and Kenya.
- Ongoing research includes consumer perspectives on food safety, with new projects focusing on government and private-sector engagement.
Purdue University’s Haley Oliver, professor of food science, has been awarded $10 million by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to continue her role as director of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety (FSIL). This funding extends the lab’s work for five more years, focusing on improving global food safety and preventing microbial foodborne illnesses. Since 2019, FSIL has conducted research across Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, and Senegal.
FSIL’s First Phase: Addressing Food Safety Gaps
In its initial phase, FSIL identified critical food safety gaps, including key pathogens and the safety practices of consumers and small-scale producers. The lab also explored food safety economics, analyzing consumer willingness to pay for safer food, which can influence market dynamics. This work laid the foundation for policy improvements in Cambodia, Nepal, and Kenya, where FSIL will now focus its efforts.
Phase Two: Fostering Behavior Change and Policy Development
In the next phase, FSIL will focus on behavior change and policy development in Cambodia, Nepal, and Kenya, targeting gaps in consumer awareness and food safety training. The lab has also launched a poultry food safety project in Kenya and will conduct food safety surveys in these countries to capture consumer perspectives on food safety risks and policies.
Future Research Areas
New projects, selected through a competitive application process, will focus on increasing consumer awareness, empowering governments to use food safety data, and motivating the private sector to adopt safe food production practices.
Purdue University Agriculture Latest News
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U.S. Farmers’ Economic Outlook Improves in March (2024/04/03)
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reported a modest improvement in U.S. farmers’ economic optimism in March 2024. The Index of Current Conditions slightly declined, while the Index of Future Expectations saw a positive adjustment, suggesting cautious optimism for the upcoming year. Interest rate expectations have shifted, with an increase in farmers anticipating a decline in the U.S. prime interest rate over the next year. The Farm Capital Investment and Farmland Values Indices saw positive changes, reflecting growing producer optimism about making large investments. However, farmers expressed concerns about potential government policy changes following the year’s elections.
Read the complete survey here.
Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Indicates Slight Rise in Farmer Sentiment (2024/03/06)
According to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, farmer sentiment has improved slightly, driven by enhanced future expectations despite no significant changes in current conditions. The survey reveals high input costs and lower crop/livestock prices as the predominant worries among farmers. However, there is still a mix of growth expectations and concerns regarding farmland values. The Barometer offers critical insights into the agricultural sector’s sentiment, encapsulating farmers’ optimism, challenges, and strategic considerations across North America.
Read the complete report here.
Purdue University’s Top Farmer Conference 2024 (2023/11/28)
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In scientific research, funding often serves as the driving force that turns visions into reality. The Purdue College of Agriculture recently illustrated the potency of this principle by securing a record-breaking $106 million in grants. This is an impressive leap from the $85 million raised last year.
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The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has given Purdue University two grants totaling $1 million each for five years. The first funding is given to a $10 million initiative led by Brent Ross of Michigan State University that aims to create resilient food systems that can weather a variety of catastrophes, including pandemics, tornadoes, and floods. The second funding will aid in creating a controlled-environment agriculture platform for raising salt-tolerant food crops using saline irrigation water as part of a $10 million project directed by Raghupathy Karthikeyan of Clemson University.
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Read the rest of the research here.
Purdue University Receives $10M Grant From USDA For Aquaponic Research Project (2023/02/17)
Purdue University has just received a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase the production of seafood in the United States. The funding will be used to build a pilot-scale integrated aquaponics system that will produce tilapia and lettuce. Aquaponics is a sustainable method of farming that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to intensively produce seafood and plants using less land and water than conventional food production. By using this system, Purdue researchers hope to reduce the United States’ dependence on imported seafood, which currently accounts for about 90% of all seafood consumed in the country.
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