Cultivating Food Safety Together: Insights About the Future of Produce Safety in the U.S. Controlled Environment Agriculture Sector

Allyson N Hamilton; Kristen E Gibson; Mary Anne Amalaradjou; Christopher W Callahan; Patricia D Millner; Sanja Ilic; Melanie L Lewis Ivey; Angela M Shaw

doi:10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100190

Cultivating Food Safety Together: Insights About the Future of Produce Safety in the U.S. Controlled Environment Agriculture Sector

J Food Prot. 2023 Dec;86(12):100190. doi: 10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100190. Epub 2023 Nov 3.

Authors

Allyson N Hamilton¹, Kristen E Gibson¹, Mary Anne Amalaradjou², Christopher W Callahan³, Patricia D Millner⁴, Sanja Ilic⁵, Melanie L Lewis Ivey⁶, Angela M Shaw⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Food Science, Center for Food Safety, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, 1371 West Altheimer Dr, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USA.
² Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, George White Bldg, Room 212 B, Storrs, CT 06169 USA.
³ UVM Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Vermont, PO Box 559, Bennington VT 05201, USA.
⁴ Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Lab, 10300 Baltimore Avenue Building 001 BARC-West, Room 140, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
⁵ Human Nutrition, Department of Human Sciences, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
⁶ Department of Plant Pathology College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA.
⁷ Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Box 42141, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. Electronic address: angela.shaw@ttu.edu.

PMID: 37926289
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100190

Abstract

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is a rapidly growing sector that presents unique challenges and opportunities in ensuring food safety. This manuscript highlights critical gaps and needs to promote food safety in CEA systems as identified by stakeholders (n=47) at the Strategizing to Advance Future Extension andResearch (S.A.F.E.R.) CEA conference held in April 2023 at The Ohio State University's Ohio CEA Research Center. Feedback collected at the conference was analyzed using an emergent thematic analysis approach to determine key areas of focus. Research-based guidance is specific to the type of commodity, production system type, and size. Themes include the need for improved supply chain control, cleaning, and sanitization practices, pathogen preventive controls and mitigation methods and training and education. Discussions surrounding supply chain control underscored the significance of the need for approaches to mitigate foodborne pathogen contamination. Effective cleaning and sanitization practices are vital to maintaining a safe production environment, with considerations such as establishing standard operating procedures, accounting for hygienic equipment design, and managing the microbial communities within the system. Data analysis further highlights the need for risk assessments, validated pathogen detection methods, and evidence-based guidance in microbial reduction. In addition, training and education were identified as crucial in promoting a culture of food safety within CEA. The development of partnerships between industry, regulatory, and research institutions are needed to advance data-driven guidance and practices across the diverse range of CEA operations and deemed essential for addressing challenges and advancing food safety practices in CEA. Considering these factors, the CEA industry can enhance food safety practices, foster consumer trust, and support its long-term sustainability.

Keywords: Control environment agriculture; Extension needs; Produce Safety; Research needs.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Agriculture
Environment, Controlled
Food Microbiology*
Food Safety* / methods
Humans
Ohio