CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 05/17/07

New UGA program focuses on food supply safety

By J. Faith Peppers

For generations, Americans have had the luxury of giving very little thought to the safety of their food supply. They could eat in peace. Now, it will likely take an educated agrosecurity work force to keep it that way.

The University of Georgia has added a new agrosecurity certificate program to focus on the issue. Set to begin this fall, it's among the nation's first such undergraduate programs.

"Today's students bear the responsibility for the future safety and health of our nation's food supply," said Jean Bertrand, assistant dean of academic affairs for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

"We want this program to instill a greater awareness of issues surrounding security of our food systems," she said. The program should "provide them with management tools and emergency response skills should a problem arise."

The program is aimed to help students think more critically, she said, about emerging issues on food system infrastructure and security. It's geared to prepare them to make sound food-security decisions.

"The new program is part of a growing trend to help reshape the way we look at our food systems and agriculture's role in protecting the supply," Bertrand said.

The coursework requirements include 17 hours of classes, including three required courses.

"In the course, 'Terror and the Food Supply,' students will learn the fundamentals of agrosecurity," she said. "They will study the legal description of terrorism, the nature and incentives of international and national terrorist groups and how agriculture is vulnerable to terrorist attack."

Students will get an in-depth view of the infrastructure needed to keep food production secure. They'll learn the natural pests terrorists could use. And they'll take part in interactive terrorism scenarios. A course on agricultural incident response preparedness will help students see the hazards and enhance their response skills.

To get the certificate, each student must complete an agrosecurity seminar. "This capstone course will explore current agrosecurity topics through guest speakers and independent research," Bertrand said.

Other classes needed to earn the certificate can come from one of four focus areas: agricultural policy, animal agriculture, plant protection or food processing.

"This program will offer a unique combination of academic instruction combined with technical training and practical experience," Bertrand said.

The students will also will work in the UGA Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness. "Our goal is to help students not only learn the issues but develop valuable communication and problem-solving skills, too," she said.

The CAES has an ongoing effort to graduate students with practical, applied experience. Students in this program will meet with a number of collaborator groups. Some of these may provide related internships and career opportunities.

"We want students to leave this program with a well-rounded, realistic education and understanding of agrosecurity in all its implications and applications," Bertrand said. "We want them to be well prepared to make sound decisions regarding the security of our nation's food supply."

Faith Peppers is the director of public affairs with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:
J. Faith Peppers
Experts/Sources:
Jean A. Bertrand
web Capitol Day Group Photo on Oglethorpe Stairs CAES News
4-H’ers see leadership in action during Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol 02/28/24 Josie Smith
The gold dome of the Georgia Capitol was complemented with shades of green on Feb. 14 as 4-H youth and adult leaders joined elected officials for the largest Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol on record. With nearly 700 in attendance, outstanding 4-H’ers from counties across the state gathered to engage with legislators, observe leadership in action and learn about the civic process.
GaCapitol CAES News
Across the Southern border: The future of the H-2A visa program in Georgia 01/17/24 Emily Cabrera
As an essential part of the U.S. agricultural industry, the H-2A program offers a lifeline for farmers facing seasonal labor shortages. The program enables them to hire migrant workers on a temporary basis when attempts to hire domestic workers are unsuccessful. Yet, as the agricultural sector navigates the delicate balance between productivity and financial viability, the high costs associated with the H-2A program present a very real and present challenge for farmers striving to sustain their operations.
service pnp fsa 8d29000 8d29100 8d29114v CAES News
Across the Southern border: How U.S. immigration policies affect agriculture 01/04/24 Emily Cabrera
For decades, economists have studied the impact of immigration on domestic labor markets. As a shortage of domestic farm labor has led to increased participation in the H-2A visa program, a brief look back at past immigration policies helps frame why migrants from Central and South America have largely been associated with filling necessary agricultural jobs in the U.S.
Men harvesting leafy greens from field during cool weather. CAES News
Across the Southern border: Migrant labor on Georgia farms 11/30/23 Emily Cabrera
Georgia is consistently one of the top five states to use the H-2A visa program, employing workers for 60% of agricultural jobs. Last year, the U.S. Department of Labor passed legislation to raise the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which establishes the minimum wage for H-2A workers, by a sharp 14% for several states including Georgia. For University of Georgia Professor Cesar Escalante, this poses the question: How do you balance supporting the interests of farm businesses while fairly compensating the people doing the hard work in the field?
UGA agribusiness and community development economist Sharon Kane unveils improved and updated hospitality and tourism data at the 2023 HOST Hospitality and Tourism Summit at UGA in  May. CAES News
UGA captures economic impact of Georgia agriculture 10/05/23 Maria M. Lameiras
If you’ve ever driven down a rural road lined with fields of cotton plants festooned with fluffy bolls and wondered how much cotton is grown in your county, forget Google — the University of Georgia’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development has what you need. Each year experts in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences perform the Sisyphean task of compiling agricultural production data for every commodity produced in the state.
Former President Jimmy Carter speaks at his induction into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame in November 2018. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA) CAES News
Honoring the man from Plains 03/09/23 Maria M. Lameiras
There is, arguably, no single individual who has brought more national attention to agriculture and the state of Georgia than Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States, who grew up in the tiny farming community of Archery, Georgia, about 3 miles outside of Plains.