Risk Analysis Training for Agricultural Hazards. A. S. Ahl, H. A. Ahmad, and T. Habtemariam, USDA and Tuskegee University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee, AL 36088
Beginning In 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture agencies were required to perform risk assessments to accompany major rules. With few risk assessors in the USDA and Federal government downsizing, new hiring of competent risk assessors was not an option. Declining budgets decreed that expensive outside consultants could not often be used. In addition, many hazards the USDA regulates are micro-organisms which cause plant and animal disease and affect food safety; risk assessment for such replicating hazards required new approaches and methods. The only option to build a cadre of trained risk assessors was to retrain existing scientific staff and simultaneously work with colleagues and consultants in developing new methodologies. USDA and the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition worked closely both on training projects and methods development for food safety. USDA worked with Tuskegee University in developing methods for plant and animal health. Partnering with the Graduate School USDA, several courses in risk analysis and quantitative risk assessment were developed and offered; well over 100 individuals from USDA, FDA, and other agencies been trained in these courses. In an effort to reach other audiences, USDA provided a grant to Tuskegee University to develop web based training. These courses will complement and enhance in-class efforts to train personnel in government. The web-based initiative also can serve local, state, and international needs for risk training as well.
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