The FPC’s National Small Food Manufacturers’ Conference was profiled in the Wednesday edition of the Omaha World-Herald.   The article provides a brief explanation of the wide array of subjects covered by the conference and the niche it fills in the industry.  The article can be read here.

Two New Grants have been announced.

The 2010 North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program and Education (R&E) Grant Program Call for Preproposals is now available online at http://sare.org/ncrsare/resedu.htm.

NCR-SARE’s Research and Education program supports innovators with competitive Research and Education grants. Individual grants range from $10,000 to $175,000. NCR-SARE expects to fund about 9-13 projects in the twelve-state North Central Region.

Potential applicants can contact ncrsare@umn.edu  or 612-626-3113. The deadline for preproposals is 4:30pm CDT, Wednesday, June 10, 2009.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has posted their pre-solicitation notice for their 2009.2 SBIR program - http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/sbir/solicitations/sbir092/index.htm

Small firms apply first for a six-month phase I award of $70,000 to $100,000 (unless otherwise specified in the component instructions) to test the scientific, technical, and commercial merit of a particular concept. If phase I proves successful, the firm may be invited to apply for a two-year phase II award of $500,000 to $750,000 to further develop the concept.

If you have any questions about the solicitation, agencies or topics of interest, please contact Lisa Tedesco, Nebraska SBIR/STTR Program Manager, at the information below.

Lisa Tedesco
SBIR/STTR Program Manager
Nebraska Business Development Center
University of  Nebraska at Omaha
6001 Dodge Street, RH 308
Omaha, NE  68182
Phone: 402.554.6270
Fax: 402.554.6260
Email: mtedesco@mail.unomaha.edu
On the web:  http://nbdc.unomaha.edu/SBIR/

The Third Governor's Conference on Ensuring Food Safety:   E. coli O157:H7 - Progress and Challenges will be held May 5-7, Embassy Suites Hotel, Lincoln, NE
 
The Speakers at the Conference include:
Mr. Bruce Clark, Marler Clark Attorneys at Law, LLP, PS
Dr. Dan Engeljohn, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA
Ms. Michelle Rossman, NCBA
Dr. Mohammad Koohmaraie, IEH, Inc.
Mr. Len Huskey, JBS Swift
Dr. Scott Goltry, AMI and
Dr. James Marsden, Regents Distinguished Professor, KSU among others.

 
Interested in Evolution, genetics and ecology of E. coli O157, Emerging Issues, Processing strategies for controlling E. coli O157 and Pre and Post Harvest strategies for controlling E. coli O157?
If so plan to attend this all-inclusive, information- and resource-filled conference. If you are a researcher from academia, a student in microbiology, veterinary, animal and food sciences, an industry representative, a government official, or an individual representing commodity producers or processors, save May 5-7, 2009 on your calendar to make sure you attend.
 
For hotel accommodations call (402) 474-1111 or 1-800-Embassy and ask for the Governor’s
Conference on Food Safety to receive the negotiated rate. You can also visit the direct website
http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/LNKESES-FPC-20090504/index.jhtm.
 
Registration is available at  http://fpc.unl.edu/govconf  The registration fee is $75 and includes lunches for all three days of the conference. For more information please refer to the contacts on the event website. 

Sponsored by the USDA and The Food Processing Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

More information can be found at http://fpc.unl.edu/govconf/