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Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSU AgCenter)
Contact Information
Name: Joseph Howell
Telephone: 225-578-7067
Email: jhubchen@agcenter.lsu.edu
Address: LSU AgCenter- International Programs, Sugar Station bldg, South Stadium Road,LA-70803
The Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSU AgCenter) will serve as the Lead Institution for the project. The LSU AgCenter provides off-campus educational programs that disseminate technological, economic and management information to agribusinesses and rural and urban communities and conducts health, food safety, youth and leadership programs throughout the state.
The LSU AgCenter has been in the forefront in international development in a number of countries over the past 40 years. The LSU AgCenter has implemented projects funded by USAID, the World Bank, the U.S. Department of Energy and U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Latin America/the Caribbean, in Asia and in Africa (Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Zaire, Ethiopia and Liberia). The LSU AgCenter has worked well with both public and private-sector institutions in its overseas programs. A recent example is the industry-wide analysis of the use of rice byproducts for energy in China, Thailand, Italy and Vietnam. Currently, the LSU AgCenter is working to bring together state institutions and private agribusinesses to assist private farmers in Ukraine. In a program in East Java, the LSU AgCenter is working with the private-sector beef cattle industry to effect genetic improvement programs. These technical assistance programs have emphasized technology transfer, human capacity building and the ability to sustain.
Many LSU AgCenter faculty members have considerable international contacts. These resources will form the basis for all technical inputs for the PFID-MSP effort. Specifically, faculty expertise will be used to define solution strategies and assist in the identification and implementation of those strategies to address short-term needs of the food industry in the region.
Faculty in several departments including Food Science, Animal Science, Horticulture, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, and the Extension Service at the LSU AgCenter have and continue to implement a number of research, education and community development programs for the food industry in Louisiana. A snapshot of research programs to minimize food consumption risks includes alternative food packaging, the pasteurization of raw in-shell oysters and the implementation of a rapid microbial detection laboratory. LSU AgCenter scientists conduct research for agencies, private-sector companies and trade groups in Louisiana. More than 35 companies ranging from small Louisiana firms to large multi-national companies have benefited from this work.
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Contact Information
Name: William I. Hudson
Telephone: 703-373-4300
E-mail: bhudson@iarw.org
Address: 1500 King St., Suite 201, Alexandria, VA 22314
The World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the proper handling and storage of perishable products and the development of systems and best practices for the safe, efficient and reliable movement of food to the people of the world. The WFLO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, is supported by a scientific advisory council composed of leading food scientists from around the world.
WFLO supports a wide variety of research in food science and has funded 140 research projects on food packaging, tempering parameters, temperature control during transportation, mobility threshold temperatures, refrigeration technology and shelf life determination, as well as a computer program for determining freezing times. WFLO also offers a variety of educational programs, including annual four-day training institutes in Oklahoma and Belgium.
WFLO publishes the Commodity Storage Manual (CSM), Successful Refrigerated Warehousing, HACCP Guidelines and other publications. The CSM is considered by many to be the Bible of the food distribution industry and contains critical information on the handling and storage of more than 200 food products. Questions that are not specifically addressed in the CSM can be referred to a WFLO-affiliated food scientist specializing in the particular commodity. WFLO members have special expertise in the safe and proper handling and storage of foods throughout what is now called “the cold chain.” WFLO offers an education and consultancy program to assist government agencies, companies and industries in implementing safe and improved food distribution. WFLO is actively engaged in translating primary components of their resource library, particularly chapters of the CSM and the textbook “Successful Refrigerated Warehousing,” into three foreign languages.
WFLO has focused its efforts in emerging markets to conduct a series of technical seminars promoting enhanced cold chain temperature management systems. The seminars are followed by a comprehensive technical assistance mission, whereby industry experts work one-on-one with selected companies and recommend low-cost and no-cost methods for improvement. The final phase of the program involves returning to the market to evaluate the impact of the recommendations and make “mid-course corrections” to the strategic action plan. Additionally, WFLO plays a key role in organizing a regional or national Cold Chain Association, tapping the local companies with a committed attitude towards enhancing the integrated cold chain and improving communication between industry sectors. To date, the WFLO has promoted such associations in China, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Dominican Republic, South Africa and Palestine.
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University of Stellenbosch (SUN)
Contact Information
Name: Louw Hoffman
Telephone: 27-21-808-4747
Email: lch@sun.ac.za
Address: DF Malan Building Office 1083 Merriman Street, Stellenbosch,
600, Republic of South Africa (RSA)
The University of Stellenbosch (SUN) is an internationally recognized university with about 150 departments in 10 faculties and more than 40 research and other institutions. A century-long tradition of quality teaching and research has ensured Stellenbosch University’s place among the finest academic institutions in Africa.
The departments of Animal Sciences and Food Science in the Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch are participating in PFID-MSP as an in-country partner of the LSU AgCenter. The links that these two departments at USt have with the food, and specifically the meat industries within South Africa, will be of great value to this alliance. SUN also has links with Namibia and other neighboring African countries.
The SUN departments foresee that they will form an alliance with the LSU AgCenter, WFLO and the local meat and seafood processors to assist those processors by enhancing their awareness of the various issues pertaining to food safety. Where necessary, the alliance will also help with capacity building and, where possible, assist with policy development.
This alliance will take the form of a Post-harvest Technology Center (PTC) situated at SU. This PTC will then provide scientific support and training to the industry, with the ultimate goal of improving its products (animal or fish-based products in all their forms), either for local consumption or export, thereby improving the profitability of the industries.
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International Institute for Food Safety and Quality (IIFSQ)
Contact Information
Name: Anna Vassylenko
Telephone: 380-44-513-7010
E-mail: pfid@ubwlab.org
Address: 21 Kioto St., Rm #8, Kyïv Ukraine 02156
The International Institute for Food Safety and Quality (IIFSQ) was established in Ukraine in 2002 under the auspices of Phase I of the USAID-funded Partnership for Food Industry Development Project. IIFSQ was established as an independent non-governmental entity and brings a combination of complementary strengths and expertise of private and public institutions participating in its activities. IIFSQ facilitated food industry development through promotion and implementation of HACCP food safety management systems, consumer protection, expansion of export opportunities, improved reputations resulting in greater investment opportunities for food processing enterprises and harmonization of the regulatory framework with international requirements.
IIFSQ's major activity is the provision of consultations to enterprises and implementation of a wide range of training programs meeting international standards. IIFSQ also provides expertise to the Committee on European Integration of the Parliament of Ukraine.
The results of four years of PFID-MSP activities in Ukraine demonstrate the applicability and sustainability of IIFSQ’s model of addressing key food safety issues in other countries. The following supports this contention:
1. Because of IIFSQ’s contribution, Ukraine’s food industry appreciates the primary importance of food safety management, which is evidenced through harmonization of national legislation with international requirements.
2. Documented advantages of HACCP implementation for food processors include higher profits, increased employment opportunities and increased market access.
3. A high demand for IIFSQ services is evidenced by an average of five phone calls weekly from enterprises with requests for consultations on HACCP implementation. This is because of its training qualifications, its access to training materials and its well-established contacts with authorizing organizations (HACCP Alliances, FDA, etc.). For example, IIFSQ trainers are accredited with international training organizations and translation of HACCP training manuals is officially recognized by author institutions.
IIFSQ contends that the Ukrainian experience can be successfully implemented in countries with similar background and current conditions. For this reason IIFSQ has established contacts with NGOs and government agencies in European countries (Poland, Germany, Estonia), and the Commonwealth of Independent States, including Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova.
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Moldovan Center for Food Quality and Safety (MCFQS)
Contact Information
Name: Alexandr Marcenco
Telephone: 373- 22- 210-887
Fax: 373- 22- 210-454
E-mail: amarcenco@camib.com
Address: The Moldovan Center for Food Safety and Quality str. Sciusev 49, of. 15, MD2012 Chisinau Moldova
The Moldovan Center for Food Safety and Quality (MCFSQ) provides HACCP training and facilitation of HACCP implementation at Moldovan meat, poultry and seafood processing plants. The MCFSQ was established under the auspices of the PFID-MSP Project and is the only Moldovan organization that can provide training accredited by the International HACCP Alliance in the United States and Seafood HACCP Alliance..
With PFID-MSP assistance, MCFSQ performed the following activities:
1. Two seminars on basic HACCP, resulting in the certification of 32 Moldovan specialists;
2. Facilitation of HACCP plans for three plants, as well as in establishing contacts between processing plants and certifying bodies;
3. Implementation of the HACCP system at Free Fisheries, a local fish processing company, which was certified by an Italian third party. As a result of HACCP certification, Free Fisheries gained access to new markets in Romania and Russia.
4. Submission to the Moldovan government of a Concept Paper on National Policy regarding HACCP introduction, which is under consideration by the office of the First Deputy Prime Minister for industry development,
5. A seminar, “Strategies for Restructuring of State Veterinary Service,” conducted with the Food Safety Program, the European Committee for Moldova, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry;
6. Admission as an affiliate member of IIFSQ.
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The Consulting Company RAPADANI LTD.
Contact Information
Name: Sophie Kemkhadze
Telephone: 995 -32 -373352
E-mail: sophie_kem@hotmail.com
Address: 14 (3), Kazbegi Avenue, Tbilisi, 0160, Georgia
The consulting Company “Rapadani” LTD was established by the key Georgian staff members of the USAID funded Project Restructuring Assistance and Policy Advice for the Ministry of Agriculture to maintain and institutionalize the team experience and capacity gained during the last four years.
RAPADANI staff has gained experience and mastered various issues of food safety through attending food safety courses and training in Georgia and abroad, participating in international Codex Alimentarius committee meetings and other international forums, as well as organizing seminars and discussions, etc. Staff members have established themselves as the leading source of knowledge and advice in the area of food safety. This competency is recognized by Government Institutions (Ministries of Agriculture and Health), the Georgian Parliament, international organizations (World Bank, FAO, EC) and private companies. They have also designed a number of food safety training courses for Georgians, including meetings focusing on HACCP, labeling, import-export issues and WTO obligations, traceability and human and animal health.
RAPADANI is working to ensure the adoption and implementation of a key food law. As a partner of PFID-MSP, RAPADANI staff gives considerable access to decision makers in the public sector and important food-industry businesses in Georgia, as well as organizational and training skills.
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Cooperative League of the USA (CLUSA) Nicaragua
Contact Information
Name: Juan Francisco Martínez
Telephone: 011-505-265-7123
Fax: 011-505-265-7335
E-mail: clusanft@ibw.com.ni
Address: CLUSA, Km. 11.25 Carretera Sur, Managua, Nicaragua
The Nicaraguan Chapter of the Cooperative League of the USA (CLUSA/ Nicaragua) is a licensed not-for-profit organization in Nicaragua, founded under the guidance and principles of the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA). Its primary focus areas are marketing, technology transfer and business development in the agricultural sector, to provide clean, safe, high quality foods, generate improved profits, and to improve the quality of life for consumers and producers.
CLUSA has extensive proven experience in training and monitoring to achieve improved shelf life, application of size, quality, appearance, hygiene and packaging standards to improve product value in meat, produce and processed food products. The market situation in produce and meat in Nicaragua requires considerable attention in these areas and CLUSA has been able to create a much higher-quality product selection for consumers in Nicaragua and importers to the United States for its products.
CLUSA has proven success in creating and maintaining market chains which benefit Nicaraguan farmers and provide products which benefit U.S. and Nicaraguan consumers through the following:
1. Interventions at the level of the farmer and rancher;
2. Coordination and development of product certification and market chains for specific products;
3. Training of producers, processors and exporters to permit compliance with the obligations in U.S. markets;
4. Development of local markets for high-quality products; and Promotion, monitoring, and feedback in the acceptance of Nicaraguan products in U.S. markets.
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