A new collaborative paradigm for fresh produce safety: stage 2 – a Fresh Produce Safety Centre (HG13026)
What was it all about?
This project established the Fresh Produce Safety Centre, an industry-led, not-for-profit company established to enhance fresh produce safety across Australia and New Zealand through research, outreach and education.
The Centre, established in May 2014, works with providers of fresh produce to undertake research, and develop strategies that underpin regulation and effective food safety programs. It was developed after a recommendation from an earlier project (HG12020) to set up a dedicated fresh produce safety body.
The project involved work to…
- Define the role and scope of the new body
- Establish it as a legal entity
- Appoint a Board, a technical committee and staff
- Make an affiliation with the Center for Produce Safety in the US
- Design and launch calls for research proposals
- Consult with industry.
These steps were taken over the course of this project and in addition, funds were raised to begin two projects. These were Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety and Understanding the Gaps – a Food Safety Literature Review.
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre was officially launched in August 2014 and outreach began including: a regular e-newsletter, blog posts, news updates, presentations, commentary at times of food safety incidents and planning for the Fresh Produce Safety Centre conference to be held in 2015.
The Centre’s work ensures that food safety is regarded as a high priority for industry in Australia and New Zealand, and that industry has input into food safety R&D.
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This project was funded through Hort Innovation