ManagementCultureTraining

eBook | Building a Skilled and Capable Workforce in the Food Industry

June26 eBook Cover — Image credit: BNP Media

Building a skilled and capable workforce in the food industry eBook cover

Staying in compliance with food laws and avoiding food safety incidents requires more than ticking compliance boxes—it demands a strategic investment in people. This eBook explores how high-impact workplace learning and skills development programs build capability, reduce risk, and deliver measurable business value. Leading food businesses are rethinking training as part of a broader commitment to culture, capability, and care.

The most effective training programs empower employees, strengthen teams, and embed safe practices into everyday work, thereby improving outcomes for customers, teams, and the business. Featuring insights from independent experts in food safety education and quality, this eBook makes a compelling business case: building competence is not just good for compliance—it is essential for performance, engagement, and protecting your customers.

Learn from Industry Experts

Introduction: Building Capability: A Fresh Approach to Food Safety Training
By Andrew Thomson, Director, Think ST Solutions and Matthew Wilson, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Adelaide University

Modern food safety training must reflect how high-performing organizations think about learning and development. True food safety is human-centric, relying on individuals' daily decisions, behaviors, and actions across every level of an organization.

Leveraging AI to Enhance and Scale Food Safety Training
By Laura Dunn Nelson, Founder, Culture Strategies Group

This article explores how artificial intelligence is helping food manufacturers overcome persistent workforce training challenges—and what the data says about its impact.

Quality, SQF, and the Importance of Changing Food Safety Behaviors
By Bob Lijana, M.Sc., Food Safety Consultant

Sustainable behaviors ensure the food is safe, drive cross-functional goals and training, and allow even better food safety behaviors to become habits.

Building a Food Safety Culture with Skills
By Andrew Thomson, Director, Think ST Solutions and Matthew Wilson, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Adelaide University

This article presents a strategic blueprint for CEOs, quality leaders, and operations to embed capability, drive accountability, and achieve lasting improvement.

Harnessing the Power of Food Safety Education for Industry Professionals
By Jeff J. Sindelair, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Meat Specialist, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Many educational vehicles are available that leverage food safety expertise from universities, trade associations, third-party professionals, and industry consultants, as well as experienced experts within companies.