OnGuard: Protecting America’s Food System

John Shutske, Professor and Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist
Michele Schermann, Research Fellow
Suzanne Driessen, Regional Extension Educator
Steve Cain and Abigail Boron, Purdue University EDEN Leaders

Objective

Develop, deliver, and evaluate education to help consumers understand their role in protecting America’s food system in partnership with private industry and the government.

Need or Impact

The U.S. food supply is a potential target for terrorism. Protecting our food system is a task that must include participation by consumers, the government, and private industry. This project involves the development of a train-the-trainer curriculum on food protection and defense that can be delivered to consumers by Extension Educators and other local food system experts.

Status

A four-hour curriculum has been developed and successfully tested with 135 Minnesota citizens. Pre-tests and post tests indicate that participants gained key knowledge about their role in protecting our food system. After revision, the curriculum will be packaged and made available through the 49 states that are active in the national EDEN network.