The overall objective of PFID-MSP Phase II is the enhancement of the food industry status in three target regions - Central America, Southern Africa and Eurasia/CIS.
Key components of this phase include:
- Awareness of food safety, food security and international regulatory compliance – leading to international market enhancement and safe food for consumers; and
- Promotion of value-added post-harvest technologies, greater processing efficiencies and improved energy and waste use – which will enhance trade, create business expansion and increase employment.
In the target regions, the following activities will be conducted:
- Central America (with initial emphasis on Nicaragua) – The LSU AgCenter has concluded that it has a significant opportunity to promote food safety, quality and security as well as value-added postharvest technology. The objectives to be met in Central America in Phase II of the PFID-MSP Project include the following:
- Promote food safety, security and quality through HACCP and compliance with recent U.S. legislation pertaining to food security. This area is addressed through training (particularly training of host-country nationals intending to be authorized HACCP trainers), consultations, HACCP compliance verification and policy advocacy; and
- Promote value-added postharvest technology – this area includes identification, analysis and promotion of processing of alternative product and of cold chain technologies.
- Southern Africa (with initial emphasis on South Africa). Proposed activities are based on WFLO’s experience in the region and the relationship that the LSU AgCenter and the WFLO have established with the University of Stellenbosch. This institution has the potential to establish a university-industry linkage as a platform to provide sustainable PFID services in the region and to establish long-term scientific collaboration with the U.S. partners.
The objectives to be met in South Africa include:
- Establish a Postharvest Technology Center (PTC) - the primary objective of this center will be to improve opportunities for value-added postharvest technology.
- Promote food safety, security and quality through HACCP – this area is addressed through training (particularly training of host country nationals intending to be authorized HACCP trainers), consultations, HACCP compliance verification and policy advocacy; and
- Promote value-added postharvest technology – this area includes identification, analysis and promotion of processing of cold chain technologies.
- Eurasia/CIS – With initial emphasis on Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, PFID-MSP is poised to build on its accomplishments in Phase I.
The objectives to be met in the Eurasia/CIS region include:
- Build on the Ukraine-based International Institute for Food Safety and Quality’s (IIFSQ, an institute established as a result of PFID-MSP’s Phase I activities) capacity to provide HACCP training.
- Present seminars on compliance with the U.S. Food Security Act of 2002.
- Through the auspices of the IIFSQ, establish a Better Process School to serve the fore-mentioned Eurasian region to facilitate approved FDA training and provide an acceptable methodology to eliminate serious food safety concerns related to low-acid canned foods.
- Expand into Azerbaijan and Georgia through the establishment in countries satellites of the IIFDQ to provide food safety awareness including support and capacity building. The program is also mandated to explore the possibility of PFID-MSP program in Kazakhstan.