Controlled-Environment Ag Lessons on Food Safety

Posted by Brian Sparks|September 22, 2020

The next webinar from the GLASE consortium will take a closer look at food safety issues in controlled-environment agriculture. Taking place on Sept. 24 at 2:00 p.m. EDT, the webinar will feature information presented by Gioia Massa of NASA and Marni Karlin of the CEA Food Safety Coalition.

Dr. Gioia Massa, a plant scientist at NASA, will highlight some of the unique aspects of space crop production and the microbial food safety considerations of space-grown produce. Data will be presented on space-grown leafy green vegetables, as well as from a study with market produce and ground-grown produce to compare. NASA’s preliminary Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) Plan will be highlighted and future goals will be discussed.

Dr. Marni Karlin, Executive Director of the CEA Food Safety Coalition, will provide a brief introduction to the unique opportunities and challenges for CEA leafy greens producers, vis-à-vis food safety. Dr. Karlin will identify the areas where a risk assessment may indicate increased controls needed to ensure food safety; as well as the areas where CEA processes enhance the ability to ensure food safety.

Click here to register for the webinar.