Resolution Year 2004
Resolution Number 5:
Formation of a National Food/Agriculture Laboratory Committee
Whereas, state agriculture control laboratories are responsible for a broad range of food and agriculture related analytical activities, and
Whereas, state agriculture control laboratories participate in a number of different associations, and consequently lack a unified voice and identity, and
Whereas, this fragmented system makes it difficult to coordinate and communicate with and among the nations’ food and agricultural control laboratories, and
Whereas, food/agriculture protection and defense necessitate improved communication and coordination with associations, agencies, and regulators of food and agriculture products.
Resolved, that AFDO supports the creation of a National Food/Agriculture Laboratory Committee that will represent all state agriculture control laboratories and be it further
Resolved, that AFDO supports a vision and mission for this Laboratory Committee, as follows:
Vision: To be the national committee on technical, scientific, and policy issues, representing State Agriculture Control Laboratories to associations, agencies, and regulators of agriculture and food products.
Mission: To provide a voice and leadership for state agriculture control laboratories, this committee will:
• Create a virtual association that helps build community within the body of state agriculture control laboratories, by leveraging web-based technology for communication and collaboration;
• Provide a mechanism for sharing methods, expertise, and other analytical resources throughout the system;
• Provide a mechanism to identify and rapidly communicate important issues throughout the nation’s network of member laboratories;
• Interface directly with associations and government entities on technical, scientific, and policy issues related to laboratory analysis, farm to table; and
• Act as a conduit for the solicitation and allocation of additional national resources in support of state agriculture control laboratories, to build laboratory capacity and capability in the areas of emergency response, research, training and development, and food safety, and issues important to the protection and defense of the nation’s food supply.
