Completed Project Report


Prevention and Preparation: Mitigating and Minimizing Risks of Unforeseen Events through Equipping Producers and Processors with Communication, Economic, and Regulatory Food Safety Knowledge and Resources

  • Award Amount: $43,556
  • Regional Center: Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2019 Education Projects
  • Project Director: Courtney Crist
  • Email: cac400@msstate.edu
  • Organization: Mississippi State University

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Project Overview

This multidisciplinary workshop and project addressed food safety and business operation security for Mississippi stakeholders. The aim of this project was to minimize the impact of natural disasters, intentional and unintentional contamination through the development and implementation of preventive food safety plans, business management, and crisis communication. Two face-to-face workshops (n=13 participants), eight webinar sessions (n=16), and four supplemental webinars (n=217) were conducted. The participants represented small produce and livestock farmers, limited resource producers, retail food establishments, meats processors, and/or small beginning farmers/food manufacturers. Further, project team members assisted stakeholders directly (n=27) in the development of their business, including facility, food safety, and legal parameters. In summary of educational activities, financial and legal risk understanding improved based on retrospective evaluation feedback. Prior to educational sessions, 48% participants had "no understanding" to "little understanding" regarding the financial risk parameters. After the session, roughly 70% had "much to complete understanding". With legal risk, 46% participants had 'no to little understanding' while after the session, roughly 96% had "much to complete understanding" of the legal risk objectives. Participant responses indicated an increase in awareness about the importance of developing, implementing, and maintaining food safety plans, business management, and crisis communication during unforeseen events.

Number of Participants: 246

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

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EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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