FoodSHIELD Announcements

FDA Funding Opportunity: Rapid Response Teams

The Rapid Response Team (RRT) cooperative agreement funds development, implementation, exercise and integration of an all-hazards food and food-borne illness response capability in order to more rapidly react to potential threats to our food supply. The RRT, which is designed to operate in conjunction with other food and feed agencies within state programs, other state RRTs, FDA district offices, and state emergency operations centers, is another tool to enhance response capabilities.

The RRTs will respond to all food hazard incidents in the farm-to-table continuum of food production and delivery by using incident command structure response protocols, a formalized crisis management system. Recipients will be awarded up to $500,000 in FY09 to develop its response team, conduct a program assessment, purchase equipment and supplies, hire personnel, and share information and data as appropriate.

The deadline for applications for Fiscal Year 2009 is June 30, 2009.

To view the full Program Announcement, please refer to the NIH Guide.

More information and applications can also be found on the grants.gov site. 

Foodshield Twitter

Foodshield is now using twitter to send out messages about recalls and announcements.  You can follow the twitter here.

Introducing FoodSHIELD's Risk Communication Center

Communication to the public during a food or agriculture recall or event investigation is a very important part of food safety.  Recognizing the significance of risk communication to our members and the public, FoodSHIELD has created a Risk Communication Center (RCC).

The RCC provides educational material on what risk communication is, how risk communication practices are used, current risk communication research, and timely food related risk communication topics.  This is a collaborative project between the National Center for Food Protection and Defense Risk Communication Team, the Education Team and FoodSHIELD.

We kick off the RCC with interviews with two leading risk communication researchers: Dr. Matt Seeger and Dr. Julie Novak of Wayne State University.  Dr. Seeger discusses the Food Warning and Recall Model; Dr. Novak discusses the Risk Communication 10 Best Practices.  These interview podcasts are available for download in MP3 format and supplemental resources are also provided. 

These interviews will be a regular feature of the RCC.  Check back often as we continue to expand our risk communication educational resources.

FAS-CAT Release Update and Webinar Training Sessions

FAS-CAT Version 1.1 will be available for download beginning Monday, February 9th. Version 1.1 will include several ease of use enhancements, but will not effect the basic functions of the tool.
 
Version 1.0 of FAS-CAT, which stands for Food and Agriculture Sector Criticality Assessment Tool, is currently still available for download with guidance document to familiarize yourself with the FAS-CAT tool.

FAS-CAT live webinar training sessions will be available during the following dates.  If you are interested in participating in this webinar training, please email [fascat@foodshield.org] for specific information on joining the webinar audience and dial-in information for the linked phone bridge.
 
Thursday, February 12, 2009  11-1 PM CST Presented by: John Hoffman
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 1- 3 PM CST Presented by: John Hoffman
Thursday, February 26, 2009  11-1 PM  CST Presented by: Shaun Kennedy

USDA CSREES funding opportunity: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

The USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) announced the addition of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) to its funding opportunities available in 2009.

 CSREES anticipates that $190 million will be available for AFRI to support six priority areas:  1) plant health and production and plant products; 2) animal health and production and animal products; 3) food safety, nutrition and health; 4) renewable energy, natural resources and environment; 5) agriculture systems and technology; and 6) agriculture economics and rural communities.  

The Request for Applications is expected to be released early in 2009 on the CSREES and Grants.gov web sites.

Go to the AFRI Competitive Grants Program web site for more information.  The complete public announcement can be viewed online at www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/afri/pdfs/program_announcement.pdf