National Alliance for Food Safety and Security

The National Alliance for Food Safety --- an idea in formation for the past several months --- came to life Nov. 12, 1998, when it hosted a gathering of the nation's food safety leaders and declared itself ready to go to work. "We're hanging our shingle and we're open for business," said Lonnie King, co-chair of the NAFSS Operations Committee.

NAFSS executives review the organization's memorandum of understanding.

King, dean of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and co-chair Charles J. Scifres, dean of the University of Arkansas Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, presented the NAFSS memorandum of understanding to Floyd Horn, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.

The memorandum had been circulated among the NAFSS' 20 member universities for their endorsements to create the alliance in partnership with the ARS. Horn said that Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and other USDA officials "are very supportive of this effort."

Horn, who assisted the university representatives throughout the year in their drive to establish the NAFSS, said, "I commend those who had this idea and those who rallied to its support."

The NAFSS sponsored a reception during the USDA's National Conference on Food Safety Research in Alexandria, Va., which attracted nearly 200 participants from universities, industry and consumer groups. Explaining the concepts supporting the NAFSS, King told the assembled crowd at the reception that the "changing landscape in food safety demanded a different way of working."

King acknowledged the wide array of disciplines represented among the NAFSS' member institutions. "The Alliance will allow us to build an unprecedented portfolio to assure a safer food supply," he said. "Participating institutions will form a synergy and align our resources."

In addition to accommodating various stakeholders through the creation of an advisory council, the NAFSS members themselves bring strength in their geographical diversity, King said. Also, he noted, "Alliance members support competitiveness in research and education."

According to the memorandum of understanding, the Alliance will conduct research and education programs "which bring the strongest expertise and talent to bear on priority food safety problems and issues." The NAFSS Operations Committee will discuss strategies for funding and research priorities at its meeting Dec. 10-11 at the Clarion Hotel at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.