Establishment of a Mobile Meat Processing Lab (MMPL) at Delaware State University

<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: <br/>We are seeking funds to upgrade the technology delivery abilities of Delaware State University (DSU)Cooperative Extension through the establishment of a Mobile Meat Processing Lab (MMPL). With the establishment of this new MMPL, we will be positioned to develop extension programs targeting food safety that include hands-on learning opportunities to educate clientele about proper methods of animal slaughter and meat processing to ensure their products are safe and wholesome. In addition to the direct benefits to DSU Cooperative Extension, it is anticipated that the MMPL would also be a tool for increasing profitability of our clientele. Allowing even the smallest of producers access to a USDA certified meat processing facility can eliminate market barriers that are preventing these small farmers from benefiting from the local and sustainable food
movements sweeping the country. There are two primary products that will be developed as a result of this funding request. First and foremost is the MMPL itself. The second product that will be developed is a detailed operations manual governing the subsequent use of the MMPL. In addition, the operations manual will function as an outline from which DSU Cooperative Extension professionals will develop, as part of a future funding endeavor, educational and training materials in food safety as it pertains to animal slaughter and meat processing. A less direct, though equally important, outcome of this project will be improvements in the research and teaching capability of faculty and staff at DSU.<p>
APPROACH:<br/>To meet our stated objective, we have identified the following five project milestones: 1. Meet with local, state and federal agency officials to determine the pertinent regulatory framework governing a MMPL for use in Delaware (in progress), 2. Meet with local, state and federal agency officials to determine the necessary design parameters for a MMPL lab for use in Delaware (in progress), 3. Based on the findings of milestones 1 and 2 above, design a MMPL, 4. Build a MMPL that will meet the requirements necessary to be USDA certified, 5. Develop a detailed operations manual, incorporating both HACCP and SSOPs to guide the subsequent use of the MMPL. Work has already begun on project milestones one and two, though it is expected that these will continue through both years of the project period. Once this proposal is funded, detailed construction drawings
that indicate overall MMPL size, layout and configuration will be prepared. Construction details will be chosen based on the guidelines provided by DDA and published in the Federal Register (1997), as determined through the accomplishment of milestones one and two. Once construction plans have been finalized, milestone four will be undertaken and construction of the MMPL will begin. The basis of the DSU MMPL will be an enclosed, all aluminum, stock trailer. The basic shell of the MMPL will be bid-out according to the specifications determined in milestones one through three. It is anticipated that this initial phase of construction will result in a fully insulated trailer that is finished with the specified interior wall surfaces; interior partitions with doors in place; floor drains installed and plumbed; and ready to be outfitted for use as a fully functional MMPL. Outfitting the
trailer is to be done under the direct supervision of the project PIs and will include the installation of the necessary electrical wiring, plumbing, refrigeration system, and installation and hook-up of the processing equipment. Each step in this phase of the construction will be done by qualified professionals to ensure that the finished product (i.e. MMPL) is of the highest quality and meets all local, state and federally applicable codes. Furthermore, it is expected that by overseeing this portion of the project directly, we will be able to keep costs to a minimum and ensure that the finished MMPL strictly adheres to both the intent and letter of the law. Once the MMPL has been constructed and fully outfitted, we will begin the final project milestone. As indicated above in milestone five, we will develop a detailed operations manual, incorporating both HACCP and SSOPs to guide the
subsequent use of the mobile meat processing lab. There are two distinct groups that will ultimately use this MMPL once completed, DSU Cooperative Extension professionals and small farmers. Cooperative Extension professionals will utilize the MMPL as a highly specialized classroom facility in which they can deliver programming to their clientele throughout Delaware. Small farmers will be trained to utilize the MMPL to slaughter and process their livestock for retail sale.</p>