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IFT and FAO Form Partnership to Address Global Food System Needs

FoodProcessing.com
02/13/2012

By Food Processing Staff

With the goal of achieving a safe and sufficient worldwide food supply, the Chicago-based Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

The agreement facilitates cooperation between the two, with IFT called on to:

• Identify individuals for consideration in food safety, quality and security-related expert rosters.
• Create conferences, seminars and workshops related to food safety, emerging technologies, food science and nutrition.
• Assist with education curriculum development, review of university food science and nutrition programs in developing countries.
• Provide scientific input on background papers, scientific perspectives and documents.
• Respond on public policy and regulatory issues relating to and affecting the global food supply.

FAO's goal is to make sure people around the world have access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives; to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy.

In the process, the organization must work at the country level to build legal and institutional support for science- and risk-based approaches to the food supply.

IFT members who are interested in contributing expertise should contact William Fisher, vice president of science policy and initiatives, at 202-330-4977 or wfisher@ift.org