The School of Veterinary Medicine and its partners recently held a workshop featuring in-depth discussions, surveys and listening sessions on issues important to organic farmers. Topics included the use of raw manure and compost, rotational grazing practices and extension needs including technology innovations and other tools to help them comply with new food safety regulations.
Conventional growers and home gardeners alike, use soil amendments such as compost and manure to improve soil productivity and soil quality. However, application of untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin (raw animal manure) may represent a potential risk for fresh produce of contamination with enteric pathogenic bacteria. What does all of this mean for the backyard gardener?
WIFSS is part of an ongoing effort to assist the FDA with development of the Integrated Food Safety System National Curriculum Framework that will be the foundation for training food safety inspectors and investigators to meet the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).