NATIONAL ASSN OF STATE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

FSMA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS:THROUGH THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE FDA, THE NASDA FOUNDATION MODELS PRODUCE SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT TO ASSIST STATES IN ALIGNING THEIR PRODUCE SAFETY PROGRAM WITH THE FDA'S PRODUCE SAFETY RULE. THE NASDA FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO WORK, IN CONJUNCTION WITH FDA AND KEY STATE PARTNERS TO DEVELOP TRAINING AND TOOLS TO ASSIST STATES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRODUCE SAFETY RULE AT THE STATE LEVEL.THROUGH THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH FDA, THE NASDA FOUNDATION DRAFTED A MODEL FSMA PREVENTATIVE CONTROLS FOR ANIMAL FOOD (PCAF) REGULATION IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT TO ASSIST STATES TO IMPLEMENT THE RULE AT THE STATE LEVEL. THE FOUNDATION IS WORKING TO ASSIST STATES TO COMPARE THEIR AUTHORITIES REGARDING THE PRODUCTION AND SAFETY OF ANIMAL FOOD, IDENTIFYING THE GAPS IN THEIR PROGRAMS, AND DETERMINING THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT A STATE ANIMAL FOOD SAFETY RULE. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION HAS ESTABLISHED AN ALLIANCE WITH AAFCA TO ASSIST OUR AFFILIATE ORGANIZATION TO ACCOMPLISH ITS GOALS.

GAP COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT:THROUGH THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH USDA-AMS, THE NASDA FOUNDATION DEVELOPED AND PILOTED AN OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO USDA GAP PROGRAMS, INCLUDING GROUPGAP, TO SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED GROWERS. THE FOUNDATION'S STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE BARRIERS IS A TOOLKIT THAT CLARIFIES THE GAP STANDARDS, DETAILS THE GROUPGAP CONCEPT AND BENEFITS, COMPILES AUDIT COST ESTIMATES, ADDRESSES MISCONCEPTIONS AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES FOR GROWERS. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS (STATE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS) WHO PARTNERED IN EACH PILOT STATE TO PROVIDE GAP AWARENESS AND PROMOTE THE TOOLKIT TRAINING AND RESOURCES. THE NASDA FOUNDATION DEVELOPED A WEB-BASED, INTERACTIVE GAP DECISION TREE AND RECORDED TRAINING SESSIONS AS ADDITIONAL PLATFORMS FOR OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND GROWERS TO ACCESS GAP RESOURCES.