NCFPD funding renewed

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Contacts: 
Elizabeth Cunningham, National Center for Food Protection and Defense, 612-624-2459
Brian Graves, College of Veterinary Medicine, 612-624-6228

DHS renews funding for U of M National Center for Food Protection and Defense
Anticipated $20 million over six years to protect nation’s food supply

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (February 19, 2010) – After a competitive review process, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has renewed funding for the University of Minnesota’s National Center for Food Protection and Defense (NCFPD). The anticipated funding is approximately $20 million over six years.

NCFPD, led by the University of Minnesota, is a multi-disciplinary, mission-focused research and education consortium addressing the real and potentially catastrophic threat of intentional contamination of the nation’s food supply. Launched in 2004, NCFPD works as a nationwide and international consortium of academic, private sector, and public sector partners. Its initiatives include developing countermeasures to close vulnerabilities within the food/agriculture system, devising practical methods to identify, contain, and recover from intentional contamination events, and implementing programs of study to develop future expertise in food defense.

NCFPD serves as a neutral convener of government agencies and the private sector focused on the development of effective, end-user-supported approaches to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance supply chain resiliency. Research projects underway include novel technologies for the real time detection of toxins in foods, tools for identifying critical infrastructure, modeling systems for use in preparedness and training, and new approaches to communicate risk to the public before, during, and after a food contamination event.

“This renewed funding is a clear reflection of the excellent work that our investigators and stakeholders have done in the past six years and appropriately raises expectations for even better tools and strategies to protect the food system moving forward," says Shaun Kennedy, director.

The renewed funding from DHS will begin as soon as details are finalized with DHS. For more information about NCFPD, visit www.ncfpd.umn.edu.