INTRODUCTION

The Food Policy Institute evolved out of a planning exercise that engaged leaders from the food industry, government, consumer organizations, and the academic community. The goal was to develop a mechanism for bridging the gap between the need for food policy research/outreach in the Mid-Atlantic region, the intellectual capital and research expertise of the Land Grant system, and other partners in the higher education system.

The Food Policy Institute was founded in July 1999 to address pressing food policy research needs facing the food system. The Institute received initial start-up funding from the Kellogg Foundation-funded Mid-Atlantic Consortium, Cook College, and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. To date, the Food Policy Institute has managed more than $9.8 million in external grant funding.

MISSION

The mission of the Food Policy Institute is to bring the depth of academia’s knowledge to bear on pressing issues and challenges facing the food system by providing timely and relevant research that is responsive to the needs of government, industry, and the consumer.

GOALS

• Working with stakeholders to identify current and potential issues of greatest importance in the food system.
• Bringing together top-level experts from the academic, public, and private sectors to examine and research issues related to food policy.
• Forming multidisciplinary teams and providing them with the infrastructure and support they need to successfully implement programs in priority areas of food policy research and outreach.
• Disseminating the results of our research in a timely manner to as broad an audience as possible.

UPDATE ON OBJECTIVES

Consumer Perceptions of Food Biotechnology

The Institute’s program on consumers’ perceptions of food biotechnology has received considerable international recognition. In August 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Korean Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology and Texas A&M University to replicate parts of the Institute’s national survey in South Korea. Researchers at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Sante Fe, Mexico, have also replicated parts of our survey to assess perceptions of genetically modified foods in Mexico.

The Institute (FPI) has emerged as a leader in this arena, not only in the academic community, but also in industry and policy circles. FPI researchers are frequently invited to major national and international conferences on agricultural biotechnology.

In October 2003, FPI released the results of a second national survey to assess Americans’ knowledge and feelings about agricultural biotechnology and how those perceptions and attitudes have changed over time. A third national survey has just been fielded and survey results will be made available in the coming months. This survey focuses on Americans’ knowledge of agricultural biotechnology, what they would like to know more of, and the different sources to which Americans go to receive information about agricultural biotechnology.

Food System Security

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, prompted FPI to initiate several studies relating to bioterrorism and the food industry. Research has followed three courses: (1) examining historic incidents of deliberate and accidental disruptions in the food chain; (2) assessing the potential economic and trade impacts of terrorism in the agriculture and food system; and (3) monitoring regulation creation under the 2002 Bioterrorism Act and its implication for food firms.

As part of its industry outreach efforts, FPI hosted satellite telecasts of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) public meetings on the four provisions of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. Through industry interviews and reviews of FDA dockets, FPI has actively monitored the implications of the bioterrorism Act for food firms. Copies of the report were featured in both national and international press and were requested by several foreign embassies and companies.

FPI researchers have been invited to participate on several state biosecurity/preparedness working groups and committees to provide a food/agricultural industry perspective. Senior staff also participated in a Federal Emergency Management Agency exercise to assess potential effects associated with a hypothetical radioactive release from one of New Jersey’s nuclear reactors and a statewide tabletop exercise simulating a bioterrorist event in the food supply.

Food Waste Recovery

Governor McGreevey established the New Jersey Hunger Prevention Advisory Committee to assist the Commissioner of Human Services in the implementation of the New Jersey Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program. As part of this charge, the Food Policy Institute is responsible for a study that focuses on the recovery of “food residuals” useable by the emergency food system for alleviating food insecurity and hunger. This effort focuses on assessing the nature of food residuals generation by major non-residential entities (produce farms, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors), as well as the cultural and nutritional suitability of meals served by emergency food providers. In addition, researchers will conduct a “gap analysis” to identify any spatial disconnects between the need for emergency food programs and existing service providers in the state.

Public Perceptions and Responses to Mad Cow Disease

In December 2003, federal investigators confirmed the first and only known U.S. case of mad cow disease, on a Washington State dairy farm. News of the discovery immediately evaporated the $3 billion U.S. beef export market. Researchers at FPI responded to the event by conducting a national survey to determine impacts of the case on Americans’ confidence in the beef supply and beef consumption. The survey also measured consumers’ knowledge of mad cow disease and expectations of future cases in the United States. In late January, researchers went to Washington, D.C., to present their findings to officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The study findings were also referenced in several national food industry trade forums and media outlets (e.g., American Meat Institute). In June 2004, results of FPI’s study were featured in a presentation by the National Food Processors Association at the 14th Annual World Food and Agribusiness Forum, held in Montreux, Switzerland.

Food Bank for New York City

The Food Policy Institute has partnered with the Food Bank for New York City to better understand the nature of current emergency food recipients and the provider programs serving them. The study will also provide an estimate of the total need for emergency food in New York City, allowing researchers to quantify the number of people in need who do not currently utilize existing programs.

Economics of Obesity

FPI researchers are establishing a program to examine the relationship between obesity, economics, income, and race. Concerns have been raised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that obesity is fast becoming an epidemic among U.S. citizens, in general, and children, in particular. Data reveal that there is a disproportionate number of obese individuals from low-income households and visible minorities (black and Hispanic). Researchers recently submitted several grant proposals to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Weather-Based Risk Management Products

As part of a two-year project with the USDA’s Risk Management Agency, investigators are determining the relationship between weather and risk for specialty crops in the United States and developing insurance models based on rainfall and temperatures. In addition, researchers are conducting a survey of Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) fruit and vegetable crops in New Jersey, southwest Arizona, and California to determine risk perceptions regarding crop production and weather variability. They are also looking at spatial and temporal correlations between weather events at multiple weather stations in New Jersey and California.

Electricity Deregulation

On August 1, 2003, the New Jersey legislature enacted a law that restructured electricity retail markets. Market watchers anticipated that the rate increase would increase electricity prices in New Jersey by 15 percent. FPI estimated the impacts of the increases on the state’s food industry and presented findings in several academic journals and food industry trade publications. In October 2003, FPI was asked to testify before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Council on the impacts of rising costs of electricity on food firms in New Jersey. Proposals have been submitted to several state and federal agencies to explore potential opportunities for promoting energy efficiency along the food industry supply chain.

IMPACTS

FPI has been receiving both national and international recognition for many of its research programs. Researchers routinely attend national and international meetings and seminars to present papers on issues such as food biotechnology, public reactions to mad cow disease, food system security, and weather related risk management strategies. In addition, press releases and news articles have been picked up by many national publications and forums such as The Food Institute, Popular Science, Food Safety News, True Food Now, Food Processing Magazine, and publications produced by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and others.

FPI is rapidly becoming known as a “go to” source of information on policy issues facing the agricultural and food system. Senior staff sit on numerous state and national task forces and advisory groups focusing on agricultural and food policy.

NEW INITIATIVES

As per its by-laws, FPI is governed by a Board of Directors comprising members of industry, academia, government, and consumer groups. At its biannual meetings, the Board assists with setting the Institute’s research agenda.

FPI also established the New Jersey Food Industry Alliance (NJFIA). The Alliance is a group of trade association presidents that provides guidance on the macro-issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the food system. It provides a forum for the leadership of the food industry to focus on cross-cutting issues that face all segments of the food industry and industry development needs.

Senior staff at FPI are also actively involved in a number of industry task forces, working groups, and other bodies that have been organized to identify and address current issues in the agricultural and food industry. These groups include the New Jersey Healthcare Quality Institute’s Childhood Obesity Task Force, the New Jersey Peach Marketing Task Force, Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, New Jersey Department of Agriculture Economic Working Group, New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee Farmland, Affordability/Availability Working Groups, New Jersey Farm Bureau Working Group on Farmland Assessment, Food Bank for New York City Research Advisory Committee, and the New Jersey Food Council Biosecurity Task Force and Food Safety & Quality Committee.

Every day, Institute staff scan for current and emerging food policy issues that are of greatest importance and relevance.

SUSTAINABILITY

The Institute continues to actively seek external federal grant opportunities. Since 1999, FPI has managed $9.8 million in external grant funding. In addition to federal funding opportunities, the Institute has forged partnerships with industry and industry organizations to attract private sector funding. FPI has expanded its efforts to increase the visibility and awareness of its research and outreach programs among USDA agency administrators, as well as New Jersey legislators and congressional delegations.

As part of the continuing effort to promote the Food Policy Institute, professional-quality marketing materials were developed. The folder, brochure, and customized slip sheets will be used to aid in increasing the visibility and awareness of the Institute and the research and outreach programs underway. The packets will also be used by the Board of Directors to establish a more stable level of funding for operating monies and programmatic research.

• ACADEMIC PARTNERS:
  Texas A&M University; University of Arizona; Pennsylvania State University; St. Joseph’s University; University of Michigan; University of Guelph; Forschungszentrum Julich; University of Dusseldorf; Korean Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Universidad Iberoamericana; New Mexico State University; University of Maryland; Cornell University; State University of New York, Morrisville; University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
• INDUSTRY PARTNERS:
  New Jersey Food Council; New Jersey Restaurant Association; New Jersey Farm Bureau; New Jersey Food Processors Association; Eastern Perishable Products Association; National Association of Flavors and Food-Ingredient Systems; The Food Institute; National Prepared Foods Association; American Dairy Association; Flavors & Extracts Manufacturing Association; Eastern Frosted Foods Association; Pathmark Stores, Inc.; Blueberry Health, Inc.
• GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS:
  New Jersey Department of Agriculture; National Science Foundation; New Jersey Department of Human Services; New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; United States Agency for International Development; U.S. Department of Agriculture
• COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
  New Jersey Hunger Prevention Advisory Committee; Food Bank For New York City; Northeast Organic Farmers Association; Council for Agricultural Science and Technology; Heathcare Quality Institute