International Food Protection Training Institute
(IFPTI)
Questions & Answers
What is the purpose of the grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation?
The purpose of the grant is to initiate development of an International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) to improve and further integrate the food protection system by addressing the unmet educational needs of food safety professionals. The IFPTI will fill in gaps in the development or delivery of training essential for food protection by improving and maintaining the knowledge and skills of people who work in the food safety community. The IFPTI will seek to record and provide, but not duplicate, training developed or delivered to food protection professional by others.
Why was the grant awarded to AFDO?
AFDO has a history of building community among government entities, industry, and academia. AFDO’s long tradition of seeking uniformity and its strong belief in a national integrated food safety system make it an ideal fit for developing the institute.
What is AFDO’s role during the IFPTI’s developmental phase?
During this IFPTI start-up phase, AFDO is responsible for the developing Institute’s governance and operations. After the management and governance infrastructure is built and ongoing funding is secured, operation and governance of the IFPTI will transition to an inclusive management structure and Board of Directors who represent a cross section of the food protection community.
What are AFDO’s deliverables for the next year?
AFDO is committed to the following deliverables during the next 12 months:
- AFDO will build community among other associations and agencies that employ or deliver training to food protection professional employed by state or local agencies.
AFDO has already completed and will continue to provide information and seek active support for creation of the IFPTI one-on-one with a spectrum agencies and associations comprising the food protection community. AFDO has created and convened an IFPTI Advisory Council. Initially, this council is comprised of representatives from the two primary federal food safety agencies as well as representatives from each association included in FDA’s Council of Presidents. - Work with partnering associations and agencies to identify training needs and priorities and to build an educational curriculum to address unmet needs. We will began to gather feedback about training needs during the first meeting of the Advisory Council on April 9, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. One outcome of this meeting may was a survey of training providers and customers (e.g., state and local food protection agencies) to determine what valuable training already exists and to identify where training needs have not yet been met.
- Work with partnering associations and agencies to build a self-sustaining governance and management system. The long range vision for the IFPTI is that it will be an independent standalone institute. Building the infrastructure to support this portion of the IFPTI vision is only in the beginning phases about to begin as the IFPTI Advisory Council convened for the first time on April 9, 2009. The Advisory Council plans to meet again in August 2009.
- Demonstrate the potential and feasibility of one aspect of the IFPTI by delivering a limited number of prototype courses in Battle Creek, MI, which is home of the Kellogg Foundation and a significant center of agriculture and food processing in the midwest. Since AFDO will pilot classroom course delivery, existing courses will be delivered to demonstrate, and fine-tune the delivery process. As part of the overall delivery model for the IFPTI, training will be provided at limited or no cost, and travel expenses will be reimbursed for training participants as possible.
How will AFDO carry out its developmental responsibilities?
AFDO will meet with federal food safety agency officials and representatives of state and local government associations to seek their recommendations and support. An Advisory Council consisting of the federal government agencies, government associations, and academia will be formed to steer the development of the institute. AFDO’s infrastructure and member community will also assist in the process.
What is the projected timeframe for the developmental phase of the IFPTI?
Though AFDO plans on offering courses through the institute this year and thereafter, it is expected that a longer term is needed until a solid foundation is built to support needed course development, certification requirements, and permanent instructors and staff. However, AFDO is committed to move as quickly as possible and garner assistance from the entire food protection community in filling the need to train food protection professionals.
AFDO is extremely excited about the vast opportunities that lie ahead with the creation of the IFPTI as we take one more step leading to a truly integrated and effective food protection system.