Global Good Agricultural Practices Conference to Explore the Impact of Current Research and Extension Programs

In summary, this global conference will stimulate and enhance collaboration among food safety researchers, educators, industry and extension professionals, provide current state-of-the-art scientific data and information in the advancing field of GAPs, and identify future GAPs research, outreach, and educational needs.
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Many research, education, and extension programs have focused on good agricultural practices to reduce microbial contamination of fruits and vegetables. These programs involve a diverse group of scientists, academics, and industry and government personnel from all over the world. This project plans to convene a conference to exchange information related to good agricultural practices and to the reduction of foodborne illnesses associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables. This conference will allow all participants to see the broad range of projects that are being conducted and identify new areas to focus future efforts.
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The planning committee will convene in Orlando, Florida, the site of the conference, and work together to plan and organize the 2.5 day event. This planning meeting will take place in late 2003 with the conference scheduled in 2004 or 2005 depending on availability of hotel and conference facilities. It is expected that 350-500 people will attend this global GAPs conference. It is important to recognize that the conference co-chairs (using the Principles of Adult Education) believe that the best program, utilizing the best speakers can be developed when the conference committee convenes in Fall 2003. With this fact in mind, a preliminary program has been developed that illustrates the general concepts of the conference. The goal is to provide state-of-the-art overview of specific GAPs topics at a global conference held in the United States. The conference structure will include a morning plenary sessions intended to include a comprehensive review of the literature for each topic and afternoon breakout sessions intended to present current scientific research and extension activities on each topic. The afternoon sessions will allow for indepth discussion by participants. Discussion during these breakout sessions will determine data gaps that exist and help to formulate a plan for future activities. The global conference will be announced through the National Good Agricultural Practices network of collaborators, on the GAPs website, through Federal and State agencies, international organization, produce and trade associations and state agricultural organizations. Brochures describing the conference, its objectives and agenda will be mailed to the large database of stakeholders who have already requested and received information from the National GAPs Program. The conference will receive broad domestic and international coverage. The conference will be evaluated through a questionnaire administered to all participants. A random sample of attendees will be contacted 30-60 days after the conference to provide answers to specific behavioral survey instrument. Cornell University is well positioned to head this project. Cornell scientists have been involved in GAPs programming since 1998 and have established a national and international network of stakeholders. In addition, extension professionals in the Department of Food Science have extensive experience in planning, organizing, and conducting successful programs, workshops, and conferences. With the expertise of the planning committee, who all work in the GAPs arena, a unique global conference can be planned and conducted.
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This global conference represents a unique opportunity to bring leading experts together to network, share new research data and extension program information and formulate a plan for future activities. By focusing on practical research projects and effective extension programs, stakeholders will continue to be provided with novel solutions to their problems as well as educational information to encourage implementation of practices that reduce microbial food safety hazards and risks.