New jersey department of agriculture lffm project for integrated food safety

The Food and Drug Administration awarded the New Jersey Department of Agriculture a $450,000 cooperative agreement on September 20, 2025, under the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model to improve animal food surveillance and analytical capabilities at the NJDA laboratory in Trenton, New Jersey, through June 30, 2030.

The recipient will obtain laboratory equipment, supplies, and personnel; implement training in standardized testing methodologies and quality assurance; develop and maintain analytical methods required by the FDA and the New Jersey Division of Marketing and Development; undertake proficiency testing; and execute an annual animal food sampling plan. The NJDA laboratory will perform whole genome sequencing of food-borne and related bacterial isolates, share testing and sequencing data with the FDA, and develop capacity to provide analytical services during large-scale microbiological or chemical contamination events involving animal food. The recipient will also participate in a mentoring program with the FDA and other participating laboratories. These activities support maintenance of ISO 17025:2017 accreditation and implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

The assistance type is a cooperative agreement. Work is performed in Trenton, New Jersey.

Abstract

(overall) the new jersey department of agriculture (njda) laboratory would like to participate in the laboratory flexible funding model (lffm) projects to improve animal food surveillance by obtaining laboratory equipment, supplies, personnel, and training in standardized testing methodologies and quality assurance. Participation in the lffm will enhance the animal food analytical capabilities of the njda laboratory and help maintain the ISO 17025:2017 accreditation. The lffm CO-operative agreement program will help the njda laboratory develop and maintain analytical methods needed by the food and drug administration (FDA) and the new jersey state animal food regulatory agency (division of marketing and development), undertake proficiency testing provided by external agencies, and implement an annual animal food sampling plan. The laboratory will be able to provide defensible laboratory data for regulatory action. The njda laboratory will be able to enhance animal food testing capacity and capability by performing whole genome sequencing of the food-borne and related bacterial isolates. The laboratory will share testing and sequencing data with the FDA. The laboratory will develop the capacity to provide analytical services during a large-scale microbiological or chemical event through contaminated animal food. The laboratory will also participate in a mentoring program in collaboration with the FDA and other participating laboratories. Overall, the lffm CO-operative agreement program will enable the development of integrated laboratory science and food safety in new jersey and the united states to support the food safety modernization act (fsma).