Building Resilient Food Safety Infrastructure in West Virginia: Enhancing Laboratory Capabilities and Capacity under the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model - Building Resilient Food Safety Infrastructure in West Virginia: Enhancing Laboratory Capabilities and Capacity under the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model RFA-FD-25-007 Overall Abstract Food surveillance testing plays a crucial role in safeguarding consumers and the nation's food supply. To effectively identify and remove contaminated food from the supply chain, agricultural agencies must possess the capability to rapidly and accurately detect a wide range of pathogens. The proposed project aims to enhance West Virginia's food testing capabilities and capacity, thereby mitigating risks and significantly reducing the likelihood of contaminated foods reaching consumers The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is committed to enhancing the capability and capacity of the state’s human and animal food testing laboratories to support a comprehensive integrated food safety system. This initiative includes expanding ISO-accredited sample collection and testing services in microbiology and chemistry, ensuring compliance with FDA standards. Additionally, the WVDA will undertake specialized projects to further develop and expand related testing capabilities. A key focus will also be on strengthening collaboration and improving surveillance activities with the FDA and other laboratory partners, fostering a more cohesive and efficient network. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture serves as the primary regulatory agency for human and animal food product testing and is also the primary regulatory agency for the testing of manufactured foods (MFRPS) and animal food (AFRPS) in WV. The laboratories maintain accreditation for eighteen methods under ISO 17025 standards, demonstrating their commitment to quality and precision. As an active member of the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) since 2005, the agency has contributed significantly to food safety by completing method development, single and multi-laboratory method validations, and conducting surveillance activities. Additionally, the WVDA plays a vital role in food defense, actively performing microbiological and chemical analyses of foods to ensure safety and preparedness. The WVDA has consistently demonstrated its commitment to achieving the objectives of this cooperative agreement through its robust infrastructure, skilled personnel, ISO 17025 accreditation, innovative research projects, method development initiatives, and ongoing surveillance efforts. This project will further enhance the WVDA's human and animal food surveillance capabilities and capacity, while reinforcing an integrated food safety system through strengthened collaboration with the FDA.
