Growers/GAPs

Researchers Investigate Microbial Risks to Produce Growers’ Groundwater Quality, Irrigation Systems

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:29:01 -0400

The Center for Produce Safety-funded project aims to generate practical guidance for produce growers, including improved sampling approaches to determine whether groundwater is influenced by surface water, and immediately actionable recommendations for mitigating microbial contamination and biofilms in irrigation systems.

LSU Researchers are Developing Farm-to-Packaging Produce Safety Strategies

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:30:00 -0400

The Achyut Adhikari Research Group is conducting several projects focused on preventive, FSMA-aligned strategies to reduce microbiological risks during pre-harvest and processing of produce, including hydroponic production, manure fertilizer treatment, food-contact surface sanitation, and antimicrobial packaging development.

Study Shows Drinking Water Quality Significantly Impacts Salmonella Vaccines for Poultry

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Elevated levels of certain metals and the presence of commonly used disinfectants were found to inactivate Salmonella vaccines administered to poultry via drinking water.

FDA Releases Initial Findings from Foodborne Pathogen Study in California Growing Region

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:01:39 -0500

The California Longitudinal Study, a five-year environmental study of California’s Central Coast produce-growing region, identified wildlife, livestock, and surface water as potential contributors to the persistence and movement of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC).

Study Demonstrates Effective Listeria Environmental Monitoring in Hydroponic Produce Facility

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:30:00 -0500

The researchers conducted environmental sampling throughout a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operation and tested swabs for L. monocytogenes. Boot covers proved to be a useful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of cleaning and sanitation.

Registration Now Open for 2026 AFDO Annual Education Conference

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:50:56 -0500

Taking place June 5–9 in Columbus, Ohio, the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) 130^th Annual Education Conference offers sessions focused on manufactured food safety, retail food safety, and produce safety.

NASEM Publishes Report to Guide USDA’s Response to PFAS in Agricultural Systems

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:05:00 -0500

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has published a report on PFAS in agricultural systems to help guide USDA's response to the impacts of agricultural lands polluted by these “forever chemicals.”

Study Shows How Reclaimed Irrigation Water Treatments Influence AMR Bacteria Transfer to Crops

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:24:00 -0500

The researchers found that advanced, multi-step disinfection treatment significantly reduces the antibiotic resistance (AMR)-related food safety risks of wastewater reused for irrigation, while biological treated water remains a potential source of resistant bacteria contamination.

FoodChain ID Announces Partnership in Ukraine, Acquisition in Brazil

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:40:30 -0500

FoodChain ID recently announced two global developments: a partnership with the Center of Excellence for Life Sciences, Agriculture, and Bioingenuity to support recovery of the Ukrainian agri-food sector and the acquisition of Brazilian certification body Sbcert.

Researchers to Develop E. coli Risk Assessment Model for Produce Grown Near Animal Feedlots

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:13:56 -0500

With the hope of developing a user-friendly model, a Center for Produce Safety-funded study is investigating factors that influence Escherichia coli contamination risks posed by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) near produce growing fields.

Journal Retracts Hallmark Glyphosate Safety Study, Increasing Cancer Concerns

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

A paper from the year 2000 suggesting the safety of glyphosate (the active ingredient in herbicide Roundup), which has been cited for decades in regulatory decisions and pesticide approvals, has been retracted after litigation revealed undisclosed conflicts of interest undermining the study’s integrity.

FAO/WHO Identify High-Priority Chemical Contaminants in Water Used for Agri-Food Production

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:42:30 -0500

FAO and WHO recently published a report identifying and prioritizing chemical contaminants that pose a food safety risk due to their presence in sources of water used in agri-food systems.

Researchers Call for One Health Approach to Close Salmonella Surveillance Gap

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

A two-year study of Southeastern U.S. watersheds confirmed that surface water harbors complex, clinically relevant Salmonella populations that differ from food animal datasets—revealing critical gaps in understanding environmental Salmonella transmission and the need for robust One Health surveillance systems.

Researchers Say Hygienic Housing, Low-Stress Transport are Key to Mitigating E. coli Spread Among Cattle

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:23:55 -0500

University of Georgia researchers conducted a review to compile and communicate best practices for reducing the spread of foodborne pathogens among beef cattle herds prior to processing, with a focus on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli.

Study Finds Adding Iron-Fortified Biochar to Soil can Nearly Halve PFAS Uptake by Radishes

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:19:31 -0500

Researchers with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station have demonstrated that the use of iron-fortified hemp biochar made from agricultural waste can significantly reduce the amount of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” taken up by food crops grown in contaminated soil.

Mexican Public and Private Sectors Stress Need for Collaboration on Agri-Food Defense

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:02:52 -0500

During the inaugural meeting of the Third National Congress on Animal and Plant Health and Food Safety 2025, representatives from the Mexican government, academia, and private industry discussed the need for cross-sector collaboration to ensure food safety in the face of emerging risks.

EPA Approves First Protein-Based Biofungicide

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:36:41 -0500

EVOCA, a new biofungicide from Biotalys, has received regulatory approval from EPA, and has also been exempted from maximum residue limits based on its safety profile.

Spanish Growers Call for Tighter EU Import Controls on U.S. Nuts Due to Aflatoxins

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:28:33 -0500

The Spanish Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Murcia (Fecoam) points to recent RASFF food safety notifications about U.S. nuts demonstrating dangerous levels of aflatoxin contamination—with almonds exceeding EU maximum levels by three times in one instance—and calls for stricter import controls.

Researchers Developing Tool to Help Leafy Greens Growers Mitigate REP E. coli Strain

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:45:58 -0400

An ongoing Center for Produce Safety-funded study is investigating the factors contributing to the persistence of a reoccurring, emerging, and persisting (REP) Escherichia coli O157:H7 subtype associated with leafy greens foodborne illness outbreaks, with the goal of developing a risk assessment tool for growers.

EU Multi-Country Salmonella Outbreak Reveals Vulnerabilities in Agri-Food System

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:07:32 -0400

A 2024 European foodborne illness outbreak caused by a rare Salmonella serotype, linked to leafy greens grown near a buffalo farm, exposed gaps in biosecurity, surveillance, and data transparency across the agri-food system.

Study Suggests Potential Utility of Bacteriophage as Supplemental Preharvest Agricultural Water Treatment

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:13:24 -0400

A new study assessed the efficacy of a commercial lytic bacteriophage cocktail as a preharvest agricultural water treatment against Salmonella Infantis, and found modest but consistent pathogen reductions across diverse water conditions.

Evaluating Agricultural Sources of Physical Contaminants in Food

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Food processors do not always consider the physical hazards that may be brought in with agricultural raw materials, or have systems in place to address them. Focus may also be diverted by looking at other sources of foreign material because adequate agricultural information is not available.

Strategies for Reducing Contamination and Cross-Contamination on Farms

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

SSAFE is helping farmers reduce or eliminate contamination and cross-contamination on their farms by developing a practical guide that provides 47 useful and effective measures that are based on scientific global best practices.

FDA Releases New Produce Safety Rule Ag Water Implementation Resources

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:27:03 -0400

The resources for industry include updated FAQs and information about how FDA plans to implement the pre-harvest agricultural water provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.

NASDA Endorses Federal Recommendations to Address PFAS Contamination of Farmland

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:40:24 -0400

The recommendations, which aim to advance solutions that address “forever chemical” farmland contamination, were developed by agricultural stakeholders, researchers, conservationists, and health groups, in collaboration with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).

FAO Report Characterizes Indoor Farming Food Safety Considerations

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 13:05:36 -0400

A new FAO report offers the first comprehensive global review of the food safety hazards, controls, and regulatory considerations associated with modern indoor farming/controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

South African Scientists: Better Standards, Surveillance Needed to Address Contaminated Produce Irrigation Water

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:51:53 -0400

Reflecting on 20 years of research, scientists from the University of Pretoria and the Water Research Commission in South Africa are calling for better national water quality standards, as well as regular surveillance and testing of water sources and produce, to address contaminated irrigation water and improve produce safety.

Produce Growers Say Time, Money are Biggest Barriers to Adoption of On-Farm Food Safety Practices

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 11:20:19 -0400

A survey of produce growers found that seven percent of respondents do not implement food safety risk reduction practices on their farms, reporting time and money to be the biggest challenges. Larger operations and farms subject to third-party audits were more likely to adopt risk reduction practices.

Researchers Developing Automatic AI Deterrent Technology for High-Risk Birds in Produce Fields

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 14:30:22 -0400

A project funded by the Center for Produce Safety is developing an identification and deterrent system for high-risk birds in produce fields based on sound surveillance and artificial intelligence (AI). The tool would automatically deploy interventions to drive away birds that are more likely to spread foodborne pathogens.

New Ancera Software Optimizes Downtime for Poultry Flock Transitions Based on Microbial Data

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 10:08:28 -0500

Precision Downtime, a new software solution from Ancera, helps poultry integrators reduce downtime during flock transitions by leveraging real-time, farm-specific data based on microbial risk assessments.