This year, Lisa Mauer, a professor of food science

This year, Lisa Mauer, a professor of food science, took over as interim director of the CFSE. One of her foremost goals is to push the commercialization of the technologies developed in the center. When that happens, she says, everyone who expects food to be safe would benefit.

"The focus in food safety for many folks has been about what happens after an outbreak; how fast can we trace back an outbreak," Mauer says. "But we are developing devices that will reduce the time it takes to initially detect these pathogens. We're moving toward stopping the outbreaks from happening in the first place."

There will also be challenges, Mauer says. As federal budgets are slashed, it's unclear whether money will be in the USDA budget to continue the collaboration.

"We have to diversify," Mauer says. "We have to find other funding opportunities."

Mauer is plunging ahead. As new faculty members arrive on campus, new opportunities arise. The Department of Food Science expects to hire two new faculty members who may become active in the center. One will take the Scholle Chair in Food Processing position once held by 2007 World Food Prize laureate Philip Nelson. Another position will have a major Extension role, focused on taking the knowledge of food safety, including that gained within the center, to those who can use it best.

"That will really expand our work. The research and outreach go hand in hand," Mauer says.
February 2012
http://www.thecropsite.com/articles/1176/comm...ood-safety