Produce boards put out joint call for food-safety proposals
Produce boards put out joint call for food-safety proposals
The Center for Produce Safety and the California Leafy Greens Research Board announced Nov. 20 a joint call for food-safety research proposals.
The research areas are directed to answer critical research questions that fill the gaps in the basic understanding in specific areas of food-safety practices for leafy greens production. The objective is to provide the leafy greens produce industry with practical, translatable research data that can be used at all levels throughout the supply chain.
The available funding is $300,000. Completed proposals were to be uploaded to the center's grant site at no https://ucanr.org/cpsgrants no later than 5 p.m. PST Dec. 22.
The areas of research are environmental effects on growth and survival of human pathogens in soil amendments and composted fertilizers; cultivation practices and growth or survival of human pathogens in soils; seasonality and other correlating factors; human pathogen reservoirs and vectors; and transference of human pathogens to leafy greens during harvest.
The Center for Produce Safetys executive director, Bonnie Fernandez- Fenaroli, told The Produce News Dec. 19 that the center had been receiving inquiries about the request for proposals.
"Proposals could come in at the last minute," Ms. Fernandez-Fenaroli said. "We've had people looking to collaborate."
Ms. Fernandez-Fenaroli said that as with this joint effort, the center hopes to work with other boards on research. She referred to the joint effort between the Center for Produce Safety and the California Leafy Greens Research Board as a "model for future collaboration."
Proposals will be evaluated by a review of at least three experts drawn from the centers Technical Committee and three from the research board and/or ad hoc reviewers, as appropriate. Awarded grants will be in amounts not larger than $125,000 per year. One-year and two-year proposals will be accepted.
Any individual or group affiliated with a university or governmental agency that has appropriate research capabilities was eligible and encouraged to submit proposals. The California Food & Agricultural Code stipulates that research funded by the California Leafy Greens Research Board will be awarded to the principal investigator -- such as the person responsible for the submission of scientific reports or administration of the grant -- in the University of California system. Half of the funding will come from the California Leafy Greens Research Board and the other half from the Center for Produce Safety.
Ms. Fernandez-Fenaroli will notify successful applicants after a peer review of all proposals and approval of the California Leafy Greens Research Board's budget by the California Department of Food & Agriculture. The estimated date of announcement is April 1, 2009.
Ms. Fernandez-Fenaroli said that the center would translate the research for broad understanding and application and "make a concerted effort to distribute it widely."
The research areas are directed to answer critical research questions that fill the gaps in the basic understanding in specific areas of food-safety practices for leafy greens production. The objective is to provide the leafy greens produce industry with practical, translatable research data that can be used at all levels throughout the supply chain.
The available funding is $300,000. Completed proposals were to be uploaded to the center's grant site at no https://ucanr.org/cpsgrants no later than 5 p.m. PST Dec. 22.
The areas of research are environmental effects on growth and survival of human pathogens in soil amendments and composted fertilizers; cultivation practices and growth or survival of human pathogens in soils; seasonality and other correlating factors; human pathogen reservoirs and vectors; and transference of human pathogens to leafy greens during harvest.
The Center for Produce Safetys executive director, Bonnie Fernandez- Fenaroli, told The Produce News Dec. 19 that the center had been receiving inquiries about the request for proposals.
"Proposals could come in at the last minute," Ms. Fernandez-Fenaroli said. "We've had people looking to collaborate."
Ms. Fernandez-Fenaroli said that as with this joint effort, the center hopes to work with other boards on research. She referred to the joint effort between the Center for Produce Safety and the California Leafy Greens Research Board as a "model for future collaboration."
Proposals will be evaluated by a review of at least three experts drawn from the centers Technical Committee and three from the research board and/or ad hoc reviewers, as appropriate. Awarded grants will be in amounts not larger than $125,000 per year. One-year and two-year proposals will be accepted.
Any individual or group affiliated with a university or governmental agency that has appropriate research capabilities was eligible and encouraged to submit proposals. The California Food & Agricultural Code stipulates that research funded by the California Leafy Greens Research Board will be awarded to the principal investigator -- such as the person responsible for the submission of scientific reports or administration of the grant -- in the University of California system. Half of the funding will come from the California Leafy Greens Research Board and the other half from the Center for Produce Safety.
Ms. Fernandez-Fenaroli will notify successful applicants after a peer review of all proposals and approval of the California Leafy Greens Research Board's budget by the California Department of Food & Agriculture. The estimated date of announcement is April 1, 2009.
Ms. Fernandez-Fenaroli said that the center would translate the research for broad understanding and application and "make a concerted effort to distribute it widely."
