Division of Food Safety
The Division of Food Safety is one of two divisions within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition (IFSN). The Division of Food Safety administers Federal funding designed to advance agricultural research, education, and Extension efforts focused on food safety. IFSN supports food safety programs that improve the safety and quality of the U.S. food supply for a healthy population and an improved quality of life.
Through competitive grant programs, the Division of Food Safety seeks solutions to the microbial and chemical hazards that contaminate food and cause disease and illness. The division employs the peer review process for competitive grant programs, where panels comprised of scientists and other subject matter experts review proposals and is actively recruiting peer-reviewers. In partnership with other Federal science agencies, the division also contributes to science policy decision-making to improve food safety including but not limited to One Health, Closer to Zero, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In addition, the division works to improve support for and coordination of food safety research, education, Extension, and outreach at universities across the nation.
Division Staff
- Dr. Deirdra Chester, Deputy Director, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition
- Dr. Shoushan “Steve” Zeng, Division Director of Food Safety
- Dr. Sheila Fleischhacker, National Science Liaison – Nutrition and Food Safety
- Dr. Junia Jean-Gilles Beaubrun, National Program Leader
- Colin Edwards, Program Specialist
- Sarah Medley, Program Specialist
Division Goals
- Reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses through a multidisciplinary approach including decreasing related risk factors.
- Advance the science regarding the impacts of foodborne illness and optimal strategies to control costs related to food safety issues.
- Develop and promote improved food processing technologies to ensure that food appearance, flavor, and texture are retained when nutritional quality is improved.
- Create new food products and improve packaging.
Relevant NIFA Programs
- Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)
- Foundational and Applied Science Program
- Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health (FSNH) program area
- A1332 Food Safety and Defense
- A1366 Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance Across the Food Chain
- A1364 Innovations in Food Manufacturing Technologies
- Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health (FSNH) program area
- Crosscutting Programs
- A1181 Agricultural Biosecurity
- A1181 Agricultural Biosecurity
- A1402 Agricultural Microbiomes in Plant Systems and Natural Resources
- A1511 Nanotechnology for Agricultural and Food Systems
- A1541 Data Science for Food and Agricultural Systems (DSFAS)
- A1701 Critical Agricultural Research and Extension (CARE)
- A1712 Rapid Response to Weather Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems
- A1713 Rapid Response to Emerging and Re-emerging Pest and Disease Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems
- A1811 Commodity Board Co-Funding Topics
- Education and Workforce Development
- A7101 Predoctoral Fellowships
- A7201 Postdoctoral Fellowships
- A7401 Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates
- A7501 Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy
- A7601 Agricultural Workforce Training Grants
- A7801 Food and Agricultural Non-formal Education
- A9201 Strengthening Agricultural Systems (SAS)
- Foundational and Applied Science Program
- Non-AFRI Programs
Relevant NIFA Topic Pages
- Advanced Food Manufacturing
- Community Nutrition
- Food and Nutrition Security
- Food Loss and Waste
- Food Products
- Food Safety
- Local and Regional Food Systems
- Nutrition and Food Systems
- Nutrition Education
- Prevention of Diet-Related Diseases and Disparities
- The Science of Food