Cornell will take its food safety expertise abroad through a new partnership with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) of China and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).

Kathryn Boor, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, recently signed a letter of intent with representatives of GMA and SJTU, to establish a joint academic program to address food safety challenges in China and throughout the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region.

The three institutions will work together to explore the feasibility of developing specific curriculum in supply chain food safety that will include academic certification programs and training.

"The signing of this letter of intent is the first step in building the cadre, curriculum and expertise to increase the safety of the APEC food value chain," said Boor.

"This initiative is a shining example of how academic institutions and industry can work together to address global challenges," said Kexuan Tang, dean of Jiao Tong University's School of Agriculture and Biology. "This collaboration will bring together some of the finest minds in food safety science to develop curriculum and training programs that will help us to build a foundation for increasing the safety of the food supply in the APEC region."

GMA will serve as a key adviser to Cornell and SJTU, providing advice, counsel and private sector perspective to these universities, according to its president and CEO, Pamela G. Bailey.

"In recent decades, as our food supply has become more global and more complex, partnerships like these have become even more critical to enhancing food safety," Bailey said. "GMA is honored to be working with these renowned universities on this common mission to strengthen the safety of our food supply chain."

Stacey Shackford is a staff writer at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.