The Food and Agriculture Protection Strategy
based on identified risks and vulnerabilities Congress should guide funding decisions. Federal funds are specifically needed to enhance or improve:
- Inspection, testing and surveillance activities;
- Information sharing through web-based and other electronic systems;
- Oversight of imported foods;
- Food, veterinary diagnostic and plant laboratory capacity;
- Epidemiology, investigation and traceback efforts;
- Standard training and certification;
- Risk mitigation;
- Animal identification and product traceback mechanisms;
- Threat, vulnerability, and risk assessment
- Research
Funding to state and local agricultural and food agencies needs to be dedicated on a long term basis through a predictable, multi-year mechanism to maximize the ability of local and state governments to plan for necessary program enhancements. Developing enhanced agriculture and food protection capacities requires a long-term commitment from the federal government to state and local agencies.