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Volume 8 | Issue 2 | September - October 2003

FoodPAC to Explore Agroterrorism Research Opportunities

FoodPAC’s Steering Committee recently announced plans to form a supercommittee to explore research opportunities in the area of agroterrorism/food supply security. According to Gary Black, FoodPAC executive coordinator and president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council, the supercommittee’s goals will be to generate a list of food supply security issues and implement a plan to work with Georgia’s statewide agroterrorism initiatives. Consisting of members selected from FoodPAC’s three technical committees, the supercommittee’s first order of business will be to arrange a meeting with Dr. Lee Myers of the Georgia Department of Agriculture who is spearheading the state’s efforts in the area.

Agroterrorism or the threat of sabotage to agricultural operations has become a growing concern since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In Georgia, in particular, agriculture is the state’s largest industry, representing an economic impact of more than $5.7 billion annually. The single largest component is poultry production, both poultry meat and eggs, which contributes more than $2.7 billion. Other significant commodities are cotton, peanuts, cattle, and tobacco. Industry representatives believe that research programs targeted at developing methods and processes to ensure the safety of these agricultural products is paramount to the continued economic vitality of the state.

UGA Holds Open House for $4.2 million Food Science Building Addition

The University of Georgia’s Department of Food Science and Technology recently held an open house/ribbon cutting ceremony for the $4.2 million Food Science Building addition. The addition is the second of three major University System of Georgia infrastructure improvement initiatives funded through FoodPAC in the late 1990s. The expansion of UGA’s Center for Food Safety in Griffin was the first and the construction of Georgia Tech’s Food Processing Technology Building will be the third and last.

The new addition houses four state-of-the-art microbiology laboratories: three biocontainment level 2 labs will allow researchers to work with foodborne pathogens such as Listeria, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Campylobacter, while the biocontainment level 3 lab will allow scientists to work with more restricted foodborne hazards such as botulism. There is also a new 70-seat extension outreach classroom, which is used for short courses, workshops, and certification programs.

Along with the new addition, the university also showcased the completed $2.4 million renovation of the existing parts of the facility at the Athens, Georgia, campus.

F o o d f a c t

Did You Know? Tobacco has been an important part of Georgia agriculture for more than 200 years. The crop helped establish the state as a valuable exporting colony, rescued farmers from the boll weevil, and has proven its dependability as a marketable crop, adding millions of dollars to the state’s agricultural revenues.

Georgia is known for its superior flue-cured tobacco, the primary ingredient in blended cigarettes.

More than 26,500 acres were devoted to tobacco production in 2001, with production totaling 64.4 million pounds.

Georgia’s tobacco industry involves more than growing tobacco. From the farm to the manufacturer to the retail store, with suppliers and related businesses in between, the tobacco industry provides 52,000 jobs in virtually every sector and in every corner of Georgia, creating an estimated $2 billion
in compensation.

Local, state, and federal treasuries receive more than $2 billion in annual tax revenues from the tobacco industry, including consumer excise and sales taxes as well as personal and corporate income taxes.

Tobacco’s 2002 farmgate value in Georgia was $110,267,030.

Source: Georgia Agricultural Resources

Fast Fact
Georgia ranks fifth nationally in growing, warehousing, manufacturing, and trading both wholesale and retail tobacco and tobacco products.