Training food production personnel to recognize and handle
potential terrorist threats to the nation's food supply
is the goal of a $4.7 million grant awarded to the Western
Institute for Food Safety and Security at the University
of California, Davis.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Domestic
Preparedness awarded the grant.
Jerry Gillespie, director of the institute, said the grant
would enable the university and its partners to train
food industry personnel to anticipate, prevent and respond
to harmful acts directed at the food system from the farm
to the consumer.
"Because California leads the nation in dairy, fruits
and vegetables and production of other specialty crops,
and because of the state's dominance in international
food trade, it is extremely important we do all we can
to ensure the safety of our food systems," Gillespie said.
