Food Protection Trends - November/December 2021 - 532

COMMENTARY
FROM YOUR PRESIDENT Ruth L. Petran
As the weather cools off here in
the northern U.S., I'm thinking more
about the pastimes that become even
more meaningful to me this time of
year. These include walking often in the
nearby woods, observing the transitions
in nature and spending more time in my
kitchen, cooking up those foods that are
comforting and often too labor-intensive
for the faster pace of the warmer season. Woven into this is hopefully
family time gathered around a large table while managing risks in
line with continually emerging knowledge about COVID-19. Yes,
we need to remain aware of the public health threats around us and
continually work to implement solutions to the array of new
challenges this pandemic has brought with it. It remains a time of
great reflection but also gaining and utilizing new knowledge.
For most of us, this extends to our work lives as well and the
various food safety and public health hazards we need to consider
and help to manage. We may anticipate the approaching end of
the year and deadlines to be met, of conferences and professional
gatherings that tend to ramp up this season, of ways to expand our
expertise. I for one am grateful for the constancy of IAFP in my life,
to keep my brain engaged on the developing science, but also focusing
on how these new insights can be practically applied.
IAFP provides members with many opportunities to continue
our involvement and learn about new issues and food protection
approaches. There are new webinars being developed on a
variety of topics as well as archives of recent subjects. There are the
international meetings that we support - the China International
Food Safety and Quality (CIFSQ) Conference, the Asia-Pacific
Symposium on Food Safety, the Dubai International Food Safety
Conference and Middle East Symposium, the Turkish Food Safety
Congress, and the first-ever African Continental Association for
Food Protection Conference on Food Safety. I have been and am
privileged to attend some of these and as I eagerly review their
agendas, I'm reminded of and humbled by the dedicated groups of
people around the world singularly focused on ensuring the safety
of their food supplies for their fellow citizens. I suggest that there
may be new insights we all can gain by taking a global view.
We all rarely sit still in our food protection lives... there is a lot of
planning for the future underway, as our Professional Development
Groups (PDGs) have been circulating ideas and Program Committees
are actively reviewing the submissions for the 2022 Annual
Meeting programs in the U.S. and in Europe. You don't have to
wait for the meetings though. You can learn more about a particular
topic area within food protection by connecting with any of the
PDGs. Additionally, many of our 57 affiliates are planning gatherings
through the approaching seasons to address more local issues.
These provide a wonderful way for us all to remain connected with
and learn from food protection professionals in our own backyards.
How many of you are involved in your Affiliate to stay aware of
community concerns and contribute your knowledge to others?
We're offered many opportunities to learn, but also to share
wisdom and insights. The new Mentor Match program is designed
to link newer members with the more seasoned to encourage shared
learnings. I have been and am on both sides of mentoring relationships
and have learned so much about myself in the process. Try it
out if you haven't!
Bottom line, there's a lot going on and I wish for you all, meaning and
inspiration in the days to come as we all strive to keep food safe.
FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR David W. Tharp
This issue of Food Protection Trends
includes our recap of IAFP 2021 in
Phoenix beginning on page 576. You
will want to be sure to review the many
pages summarizing this year's Annual
Meeting to relive the meeting or to see
what you missed!
Included in the Annual Meeting
recap are written summaries of the
meeting itself, The Ivan Parkin Lecture
presented by Robert Gravani and the John H. Silliker Lecture
presented by Barbara Masters. You will also find minutes from the
virtual PDG and Committee meetings held in June along with the
Business Meeting minutes. And lastly, the Award recipients are
listed out along with pictures.
One feature of the Annual Meeting review that I always enjoy
reading is written by the Travel Award recipients and the Student
Travel Scholarship recipients. It is so exciting to read the motivating
messages written by those attendees who were supported by the
IAFP Foundation. I'm sure you will find the narratives enlightening!
We know there were a few unexpected snafus during IAFP 2021,
but with so many different varieties of presentations (including
in-person, pre-recorded and virtual) it would be expected that
some difficult situations might occur. Between the presenters, our
532 Food Protection Trends November/December
audiovisual staff and the IAFP staff, we were quick to respond and
address the issues. Some fixes took longer than others but with
contingency plans in place, we were able to continue with
the presentations.
There are always issues that crop up at the most inopportune
times but having a " seasoned " staff and a number of professional
support staff, many of whom have worked alongside of our staff for
years, we are able to address the issue and resolve it quickly. This
has become even more important in planning for IAFP Annual
Meetings over the past two years during the pandemic. We attempt
to be prepared for any glitch that may arise and we have been
successful in resolving matters when needed. Most times, problems
can be solved before they become larger issues that the general
audience members would recognize. Again, our seasoned (or
long-term) staff have the experience necessary to keep our meeting
flowing smoothly.
Now we have eight or nine months until IAFP 2022 in Pittsburgh
to prepare for the meeting. Our planning timeline for each Annual
Meeting exceeds 12 months and contains details of what needs to
be accomplished along the way. This puts us in position to conduct
" The Leading Food Safety Conference " for our Members and
attendees. We hope you enjoy reading about IAFP 2021 and that
you will begin planning to join your colleagues in Pittsburgh at
IAFP 2022!
Food Protection Trends - November/December 2021

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