Webinars

The list below shows upcoming webinars held by IAFP and IAFP’s Professional Development Groups (PDGs). Please note that all opinions and statements are those of the individual making the presentations and not necessarily the opinion or view of IAFP.

Upcoming Webinars

  • Matrix Additions Part 3: Matrix Extension Study Design and Execution Apr 24, 2025 (2:00 PM-3:00 PM Eastern Time)

    The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has ignited a rapid evolution in the food industry, creating a need for food manufacturers to further scrutinize the methods which are being used to test their products. Demonstrating the effectiveness of rapid methods, such as an immunoassay, PCR, or LAMP, perform appropriately for the detection of pathogens in a food matrix is a critical step in safeguarding product safety. However, the performance of certified and/or validated qualitive microbiology methods is limited to the food matrices which were included in the accrediting validation study (s). Therefore, food producers, test kit suppliers, and third-party laboratories need to execute additional verification or validation studies to ensure that the method is fit-for-purpose for the end user’s specific needs. Matrix Additions: Part 3 will outline the process for evaluating a detection method on a new matrix in alignment with the validation parameters outlined in AOAC Appendix J microbiology method validation guidelines. The presentation will provide valuable insights regarding best practices in study execution and elucidate of the nuances in the matrix extension study design.

    Learning Objectives:

    1. Learn how to prepare microorganisms for inoculation and equilibrate inoculated food matrices prior to study execution.

    2. Evaluate the inoculum level post-equilibration using Most Probable Number (MPN) determination.

    3. Understand qualitative study design including the differences between paired vs. unpaired studies and confirmation steps.

    4. Execute data interpretation using Probability of Detection (dPOD) statistical analysis.

    Presenters
    • Patrick Bird, Panelist bioMerieux
    • Quynh-Nhi Le, Panelist Neogen
    • Amanda Brookhousr-Sisney, Moderator Midwest Laboratories
  • Predicting the Troublemakers: Guidance and a Computer Tool to Predict Microbial Growth May 15, 2025 (11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Eastern Time)

    This webinar brings together industry and academic experts to share up-to-date approaches to microbial prediction, standardization efforts, and practical predictive tools for product design and microbial shelf-life determination.

    Heidy den Besten, Wageningen University

    How to predict growth of microorganisms?

    This presentation will cover the fundamental principles of microbial growth prediction, including key factors affecting growth kinetics and mathematical models.

    Mariem Ellouze, Ferrero

    Development of an international standard on the determination and use of cardinal values for growth

    The International Standardization Organisation (ISO) is working on an international standard to determine and use cardinal values for microbial growth prediction. The need for standardization will be discussed and the guidelines included in the standard.

    Panos Skandamis, Agricultural University of Athens

    User-friendly, freely available computer tool to predict microbial growth

    A demonstration of an accessible computer tool designed to help food safety professionals predict microbial growth under various conditions, with practical examples of the tool application and machine learning approaches in microbial growth prediction for product development and shelf-life determination.

    Presenters
    • Heidy den Besten, Presenter Wageningen University
    • Mariem Ellouze, Presenter Ferrero
    • Panos Skandamis, Presenter Agricultural University of Athens
    • Abdullatif Tay, Moderator Pepsico
  • Bringing Food Safety Indoors: Food safety insights for indoor, vertical and modern greenhouse farming. May 27, 2025 (10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Eastern Time)

    Cultivating plants within a contained environment, and thereby protected from the elements, has a long history. Previously, indoor farming meant using greenhouses to increase productivity along with extending growing seasons. The advent of enabling technologies such as LED lighting, energy management, robotics and environmental control systems, has enabled indoor farming to become economically viable for staple crop production. This has led to an increase in indoor farming facilities across the globe to enhance food production through a local supply that is more protected against extreme weather events compared to conventional farming, thereby enhancing food security. There is also the perception that indoor farmed crops are protected from contamination from pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, toxigenic Escherichia coli) and chemical hazards, such as excessive pesticide residues, by virtue of being within a contained environment. However, there have been several outbreaks and recalls associated with indoor farmed crops. Consequently, there is a need for a greater understanding of the sources of contamination and what risk management options are available to growers. To address this need, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been developing a publication on the food safety insights for various types of indoor farming systems. The first part of the presentation will provide an overview of the FAO mission and how the publication has been prepared. The second part of the presentation will describe the different elements and systems encompassed under the indoor farming umbrella. The sources of contamination via the different inputs within farming operations will be described along with the fate of pathogens (STEC, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes) when introduced on seed, growth substrate and irrigation water. Interventions to reduce contamination while maintaining plant growth performance and quality will be outlined. The presentation will be of interest to competent authorities, researchers, producers, technology providers, inspectors and educators.

    Learning Objectives:

    Learning objectives
    •To understand the key elements and systems within indoor farming operations.
    •Be able to identify specific food safety risks associated with indoor farming vs conventional outdoor farming.
    •Be aware of risk management options for indoor farming to control chemical and biological hazards
    •To identify and discuss future research needs

    Presenters
    • Dr. Masami Takeuchi, Presenter FAO, Rome
    • Dr. Keith Warriner, Presenter University of Guelph
    • Dr. Jeffrey Farber, Moderator JM Farber Global Food Safety; University of Guelph