Human Pathogens on Plants: Multidisciplinary Strategy for Research: A Conference Proposal

<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: <br/>Fresh produce is increasingly implicated in outbreaks of foodborne disease. Recalls and litigation cost millions and challenge U.S. producers, processors, retailers, and regulators. Increasing pressure is being placed on the government, produce associations, retailers, and growers to institute improved, science-based food safety standards and audit compliance. Fundamental and practical research is needed to identify best management practices and develop reasonable and effective strategies and policies. Understanding the interactions of human pathogens and plants, and how to prevent them, requires integration of multiple disciplines and expertise. Our multi-disciplinary team of plant pathologists and food scientists will host a national conference, to be held in 2011 in the College Park, MD, vicinity, to (1) bring together active plant pathology
and food safety researchers, (2) exchange research methods, findings and hypotheses, (3) prioritize short- and long-term research, (4) enhance communication among the disciplines, and (5) plan research to maximize produce safety. Deliverables will include a specific research agenda, a publicly-accessible APS Webpage of Conference posters, a proceedings publication with brief summaries of conference presentations, articles published in APS, IAFP and IFT newsletters, and background for planning of a joint policy initiative. This proposal addresses Primary Challenge Area #3, Improve food safety for all Americans,and RFP Priority #3, Food-borne Pathogen-Plant Interactions.
<p>APPROACH: <br/>Conference participation will be partly open and partly by invitation; key speakers and poster session leaders would be invited directly, while students and early career professionals would be eligible for a limited number of travel awards. Through advertising, we will seek to engage scientists from Land Grant universities, as well as minority-serving institutions. We will invite representatives of state and Federal agencies (e.g., ARS, NIFA, APHIS, FDA, etc.), and the private sector (e.g., Fresh Express, Dole, etc). The meeting will be a 2.5 day event consisting of a strategic mix of presentations that frame specific themes, poster sessions to further explore current research on that theme, and re-convened group sessions to discuss the posters with facilitation by carefully selected theme leaders. The products of this meeting will include a concise report
with proposed research priorities useful for researchers in plant pathology and food science, for university administrators, government agencies, and the private sector.
<p>PROGRESS: 2011/03 TO 2012/02<br/>OUTPUTS: Activities. The workshop brought together active researchers and key Federal agency and scientific society representatives from the plant pathology, food microbiology, and other food safety disciplines (including USDA, FDA, EPA, CDC, the American Phytopathological Society, the International Association for Food Protection, the American Society for Microbiology) to meet one another, establish communication, and learn about each others perspectives and needs relative to human pathogens on plants (HPOPs). Participants identified the highest priority research needs in the areas of conference themes: (1) Environmental Issues, (2) Pathogen Dissemination, (3) Detection and Diagnosis, (4) Sampling Challenges and Solutions, (5) Forensics and Traceback, (6) Human Pathogenic Viruses on Plants, (7) Emerging Issues, and (8) Prevention and
Control. Events. The workshop included keynote addresses by renowned plant pathologists and food safety specialists, short "Flash and Dash" presentations by young scientists on key topics, research poster sessions, discussion sessions, and networking meals. Products. Poster presentations were posted on APSnet for access by those unable to attend the workshop. A Research Coordination Network (RCN), developed from the recommendations of the workshop discussants, is currently being planned for submission to USDA NIFA-AFRI, the National Institutes of Health, and/or the National Science Foundation. Dissemination. Articles summarizing the events and outcomes of the workshop were submitted and published in the newsletters of several Federal agencies and scientific societies. Pre- and post-workshop survey results were analyzed and their content included in the newsletter stories. A report on the
workshop was presented in Summer 2012 at the Annual Meeting of the American Phytopathological Society at several events: a session of the APS Governing Council, a meeting of the APS Food Safety Interest Group, and an open symposium on activities of the APS Public Policy Board. PARTICIPANTS: Conference Planning Committee: Jeri Barak (University of Wisconsin, Department of Plant Pathology), Kellye Eversole (Eversole Associates, Policy Representative), Jacqueline Fletcher (Oklahoma State University, Department of Plant Pathology), Lawrence Goodridge (Colorado State University, Food Science), Jan Leach (Colorado State University, Plant Science), Michael Mahovic (FDA, Center for Food Safety and Nutrition), and Manan Sharma (USDA ARS). Speakers: Jan Leach (Chair, APS Public Policy Board), Mike Mahovic (FDA CFSAN), Robert Whitaker (Produce Marketing Assn), Jacque Fletcher (NIMFFAB, Oklahoma
State University), Mike Doyle (Center for Food Safety, U. of Georgia), Maria Brandl (USDA ARS), Robert Tauxe (CDC), Robert Buchanan (Ctr Food Safety and Security Systems), Kellye Eversole (Eversole Associates). Partner organizations: American Phytopathological Society, International Association for Food Protection, USDA, FDA, CDC, EPA. Training: Travel grants for graduate students and postdocs were provided. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences: University, Federal and industry researchers in food safety, Federal agency administrators, representatives of growers of fresh plant foods, graduate students and postdocs. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
<p>PROGRESS: 2011/03/01 TO 2012/02/29<br/>OUTPUTS: Activities. The workshop brought together active researchers and key Federal agency and scientific society representatives from the plant pathology, food microbiology, and other food safety disciplines (including USDA, FDA, EPA, CDC, the American Phytopathological Society, the International Association for Food Protection, the American Society for Microbiology) to meet one another, establish communication, and learn about each others perspectives and needs relative to human pathogens on plants (HPOPs). Participants identified the highest priority research needs in the areas of conference themes: (1) Environmental Issues, (2) Pathogen Dissemination, (3) Detection and Diagnosis, (4) Sampling Challenges and Solutions, (5) Forensics and Traceback, (6) Human Pathogenic Viruses on Plants, (7) Emerging Issues, and (8) Prevention
and Control. Events. The workshop included keynote addresses by renowned plant pathologists and food safety specialists, short "Flash and Dash" presentations by young scientists on key topics, research poster sessions, discussion sessions, and networking meals. Products. Poster presentations were posted on APSnet for access by those unable to attend the workshop. A Research Coordination Network (RCN), developed from the recommendations of the workshop discussants, is currently being planned for submission to USDA NIFA-AFRI, the National Institutes of Health, and/or the National Science Foundation. Dissemination. Articles summarizing the events and outcomes of the workshop were submitted and published in the newsletters of several Federal agencies and scientific societies. Pre- and post-workshop survey results were analyzed and their content included in the newsletter stories. A report on
the workshop was presented in Summer 2012 at the Annual Meeting of the American Phytopathological Society at several events: a session of the APS Governing Council, a meeting of the APS Food Safety Interest Group, and an open symposium on activities of the APS Public Policy Board. PARTICIPANTS: Conference Planning Committee: Jeri Barak (University of Wisconsin, Department of Plant Pathology), Kellye Eversole (Eversole Associates, Policy Representative), Jacqueline Fletcher (Oklahoma State University, Department of Plant Pathology), Lawrence Goodridge (Colorado State University, Food Science), Jan Leach (Colorado State University, Plant Science), Michael Mahovic (FDA, Center for Food Safety and Nutrition), and Manan Sharma (USDA ARS). Speakers: Jan Leach (Chair, APS Public Policy Board), Mike Mahovic (FDA CFSAN), Robert Whitaker (Produce Marketing Assn), Jacque Fletcher (NIMFFAB, Oklahoma
State University), Mike Doyle (Center for Food Safety, U. of Georgia), Maria Brandl (USDA ARS), Robert Tauxe (CDC), Robert Buchanan (Ctr Food Safety and Security Systems), Kellye Eversole (Eversole Associates). Partner organizations: American Phytopathological Society, International Association for Food Protection, USDA, FDA, CDC, EPA. Training: Travel grants for graduate students and postdocs were provided. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences: University, Federal and industry researchers in food safety, Federal agency administrators, representatives of growers of fresh plant foods, graduate students and postdocs. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.