Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** there ?????? Dire workforce…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** there ?????? Dire workforce shortage?? In food safety auditing, inspections, and assessment (AIA) occupations. The consequences of high turnover and vacancy rates in food safety AIA occupations are significant training costs passed onto consumers and taxpayers and inadequate oversight over the food supply chain. There is a lack of awareness about the food safety AIA workforce shortages across he. Also, there is not a nationally recognized curriculum or credentialing program for entry level food safety AIA professionals. The proposed project will directly address the GAP that exists between the expectations of food safety compliance entities and both the abundance and competency levels of new graduates. The project goal is to lead a nationwide effort to recruit and develop a competent workforce of food safety AIA professionals. To accomplish this, we will: (1) develop a turnkey and flexible curriculum that equips food safety educators to cultivate the next generation of food AIA professionals; (2) develop an AIA community of practice (COP) for food safety educators; (3)??develop and implement a sustainable model for dissemination of the curriculum; (4) produce?? Research-based marketing strategies and materials for recruiting students into food AIA careers for?? Food safety educators to use; and (5) develop an easy-to-access network of professionals and?? Organizations for educators and students to engage with. The proposed project will be implemented?? By critical mass of multidisciplinary experts for an efficient execution of project goals and?? Objectives. IT is also backed by broad support across regulatory, private industry, and higher?? Education communities.