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Food safety

Food safety. A practical approach at farm level. Tony Pettit. Kildalton College, Ireland. Teagasc. Irish Agriculture & Food Development Authority Research Farm advice Training. Personal Experience. Farm Adviser Beef Specialist Food Assurance Programme Leader

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Food safety

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  1. Food safety A practical approach at farm level Tony Pettit. Kildalton College, Ireland

  2. Teagasc Irish Agriculture & Food Development Authority • Research • Farm advice • Training

  3. Personal Experience • Farm Adviser • Beef Specialist • Food Assurance Programme Leader • Study of Irish farmer & adviser attitudes Kildalton College

  4. Teagasc Food Assurance Programme Key objectives • Increase awareness (farmers, advisers) • Develop + deliver training modules • Work with industry & state agencies

  5. Food safety at farm level • Farmers are food producers • Key link in food chain • Farm food safety is important • Most produce safe food

  6. 3 components of food safety • Rules & standards • Independent controls & checks • Proactive food safety systems Increasing food safety requirements at farm level

  7. What is the challenge? Farmers to understand & apply food safety principles: • consciously • proactively • systematically

  8. How can we help farmers? 1. Recognize concerns 2. Be realistic 3. Be clear 4. Make the rules practical 5. Can we do more?

  9. Recognise farmer concerns • Important issue • Farmer role • Market angle • Personal values • Threat? • Credibility?* • Top down? • Negative press? Complex attitudes to food safety *(imports, supermarkets)

  10. Are farmer attitudes important? • Food safety – ‘politicized’ • Producers may be angry, defensive Food safety can be a ‘hard sell’

  11. 2. Be realistic on farmer capabilities EU farming profile • Small holdings • Family labour • Part time farmers • Age & education

  12. Farmer has many roles • Stock person • Business manager • Administrator • Environmental manager • Quality controller • Family duties/ part time It is possible to regulate beyond capabilities

  13. Match expectations to system Extensive beef system Average size dairy farm Intensive pig system Intensive Horticulture

  14. 3. Be clear on ‘why’ and ‘how’ • Clear messages are essential • Is there a strong penalty/reward? • Are consequences visible or remote? • Are the controls practical/achievable Farm food safety must be focused & meaningful

  15. 4.Make the rules practical • Legislation far too complex • Need farm codes of practice • Good farm assurance schemes help Rules & controls are not the sole answer

  16. 5. Can we do more to help farmers? • EU Farm policy • Agri-food industry • Training & awareness • Farm advice Important areas

  17. Recent EU Farm Policy Changes Help EU support payments tied to food safety • Increases relevance for farmer • Farmers respond to ‘schemes’ • ‘Farm advisory system’ to help farmers?

  18. Agri – food industry can help • Processors next link in supply chain • Outline the bigger food chain picture • Educate farmer suppliers on ‘why’ • Feedback information (e.g. pathogens)

  19. Training & Awareness Programs Need more emphasis on farmer training • Help farmers understand key principles • Voluntary but recognised programs • Short, practical & participative, farm checklists

  20. What Training Objectives? • Understand basic hazard analysis principles • Farm biological, chemical, physical hazards • Be able to apply to own farm Practical example – livestock medicines

  21. Advise farmers on best farm practice • Farm Inputs • Feed • Water • Medicines • Agro-chemicals • Detergents etc • Fertilisers • Additives • Purchased Stock • Breeding Stock • Farm Facilities • Animal housing • Stores • -feed, crops • -chemicals etc • Milking Machine • Bulk Tanks • Machinery • Activities/Procedures • Cleaning/Hygiene • Milking routine • Feeding /Nutrition • Husbandry activities • Veterinary activities • Bio-security • Crop spraying • Recording/Monitoring Food safety covers the production process

  22. Summary • Farming is a food business • Most farmers produce safe food • Pressure to demonstrate best farm practice Need much more emphasis on helping farmers

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