Oklahoma State University (OSU) is one step closer to finalizing a new food safety program that will benefit both students and the global food industry at large. With the demand for safe quality food products on the rise, the institution’s Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center decided to give more than $1 million toward a $3.4 million fundraising goal to get the program started. 

Due to requirements outlined by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), tighter food safety systems are a must. The demand for highly-qualified graduates who can plan programs with FSMA in mind is already great and will continue to grow. To cultivate this need, OSU’s plans include creating a food safety curriculum, along with a food safety faculty position in the department of animal science. Scholarships, internships, undergraduate research opportunities and career development initiatives are all expected in the future.

Ultimately, OSU’s new program will help to prepare students for jobs in the food safety industry (domestic and global) including packaging, retail distribution, manufacturing and production.

For more information, visit the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Center’s official website.