USDA Grant to Fund Division of Agriculture Research on COVID-19 Control in Food-Service Establishments
Arkansas food scientist Kristen Gibson is leading a multi-institutional research effort to ensure that dine-in restaurant customers will not be exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded a $987,000 research grant to Gibson, associate professor of food safety and microbiology for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. It is one of 17 rapid response grants totaling $13 million USDA-NIFA awarded through its Agricultural and Food Research Initiative.
The Agricultural Experiment Station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Gibson also has a teaching appointment in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.
Gibson said the goal of the two-year project is to provide scientific evidence that the COVID-19 precautions employed by the foodservice industry are working.
"We are very pleased with Dr. Gibson's involvement in this important and timely research," said Jean-Francois Meullenet, senior associate vice president for agriculture and director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. "Dr. Gibson is a world-class virologist with significant research experience on the persistence of viruses on contact surfaces and the development of effective disinfection strategies. I am confident she will be a strong asset to this multidisciplinary team of researchers."
Parag Chitnis, USDA-NIFA acting director, said, "It was quickly evident at the onset of the pandemic that the food supply, agricultural systems, families and education — key focus areas for USDA and our partners — would be greatly impacted by all the changes facing our society. USDA-NIFA is uniquely positioned to help fund rapid response research, outreach and education efforts, while continuing to support our base research, extension and 4-H youth development programs that are in place at all times to respond to producer and consumer needs, large and small, across the nation."
USDA-NIFA posted its news release announcing the rapid response grants.
Read the full story from University of Arkansas here.