Project Grant 20237002040566

THE FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT (FSMA) ENABLES THE FDA TO BETTER PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH BY STRENGTHENING THE FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM. IT CREATES MORE AND BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FDA TO FOCUS ON PREVENTING FOOD SAFETY PROBLEMS RATHER THAN RELYING PRIMARILY ON REACTING TO PROBLEMS AFTER THEY OCCUR. FROM A FARMING PERSPECTIVE, THE CHANGES ENACTED AND REQUIRED BY FSMA HAVE CREATED SOME CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY FOR SMALLER FARMERS AND FARMS OPERATED BY HISTORICALLY UNDER-SERVED POPULATIONS. THE RESOURCE DISPARITIES BETWEEN SMALL FARMING OPERATIONS AND LARGE OPERATIONS CAN BE QUITE VAST, AND SOME OF THE CHANGES IN REQUIREMENTS ENACTED BY FSMA TO ACCESS ROBUST, DIVERSE, AND LUCRATIVE END-MARKETS REQUIRE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND OUTLAYS THAT ARE TYPICALLY BEYOND THE REACH OR FEASIBILITY OF MANY SMALL FARMERS.CREATING NO AND LOW-COST OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTAIN FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION TRAINING AND ACCESS TECHNOLOGICAL PLATFORMS THAT OPEN UP ADDITIONAL MARKETS FOR INCREASED REVENUE AND PROFITS IS CRUCIAL TO LEVELING THE FSMA PLAYING FIELD FOR SMALL FARMERS. IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT INCREASING FOOD SAFETY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOPING A FOOD SAFETY PLAN(S) CAN DECREASE THE DISPARATE IMPACTS OF FSMA COMPLIANCE COSTS BETWEEN LARGE FARMERS AND SMALL FARMERS BY INCREASING MARKET ACCESS FOR FOOD SAFETY-TRAINED FARMS AND BOOSTING THEIR REVENUE GENERATION.OURSPACE WORLD AND GOOD EARTH THERAPY'S PROJECT - DE-MYSTIFYING FSMA: CREATING A FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM TO INCREASE MARKET ACCESS FOR BLACK PRODUCERS AND CHEFS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC US WILL OFFER TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND ACCESS TO A TRACKAND TRACE TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMTHAT SEEKS TO REDUCE THESE DISPARITIES AND ENSURE THE PROFITABILITY AND SUCCESS OF SMALL FARMING OPERATIONS IN THE DMV-AREA AND - WITH SCALE - THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION AND COUNTRY AT LARGE. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL MEET THE GOALS OF THE FOOD SAFETY OUTREACH PROGRAM BY CREATING (1) CHEF-LED FOOD SAFETY TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROCESSES FOR FARMERS AND (2) BUILD AND IMPLEMENT TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPS SMALL FARMERS ADHERE TO SECTION 204 OF THE FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT (FSMA), THE FOOD TRACEABILITY FINAL RULE, BY TRACKING AND TRACING PRODUCE FROM SEED TO TABLE.THESE EFFORTS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A MULTI-STATE EFFORT IN THE DC, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA (DMV) REGION OF THE UNITED STATES, WORKING WITH A NETWORK OF ALL-BLACK CHEFS, FARMERS, AND TECHNOLOGY/SERVICE PROVIDERS.