International Food Security Unit

Professors-in-charge: Drs. Manjit Misra, Ph.D. and James Roth, D.V.M.

The International Food Security Unit consists of the Biosafety Initiative for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products (BIGMAP) and the Center for Food Security and Public Health (CFSPH). Dr. Manjit Misra leads the BIGMAP initiative and Dr. James Roth leads the CFSPH. Both of these centers address international food security in unique ways. The BIGMAP provides science-based analysis of the risks and benefits of genetically modified organisms. The CFSPH provides increased education and awareness of threats to the food supply and public health and enhances preparedness for outbreaks of zoonotic and animal diseases. Both centers focus heavily on education and outreach.

The BIGMAP provides unbiased, science-based and socially relevant analysis of the risks and benefits of genetically modified plant and animal products (GMAPs). It provides guidance and education to policy and regulatory groups, private entities and the public to safeguard consumers and the environment. The center is the developer, depositor and the clearinghouse of credible information on GMAPs worldwide.

The BIGMAP is:

• Forming interdisciplinary teams to review and/or conduct research on scientific, social, economic, and ethical issues during the pre-approval process and answer questions raised by the release of new GMAPs. Conducting fundamental studies on the health and environmental safety of GMAPs, including quantitative risk assessment, threshold of tolerance, effect of specific GMAPs on human health, and gene flow studies.
• Developing novel rapid biosensing and testing technologies crucial to monitoring and regulating GM agricultural products.
• Examining consequences of GMAP adoption on social, economic, and political well-being of people, both here and abroad.
• Establishing national and international partnerships for research and education on biosafety issues and recommend standards to facilitate transboundary movement of modified plant and animal products.
• Communicating the risk and benefits of GMAPs through extension and education programs and engage the public and industry in relevant issues.
• Enhancing undergraduate and graduate education at ISU by developing new course modules on biosafety, biosensing, risk analysis and process management and by research experiences sponsored by the institute.

• Developing reference materials and continuing education materials on potential bioterrorism agents for medical professionals to improve the ability of the medical community to recognize symptoms of zoonotic diseases in humans and the animals they associate with.
• Developing reference materials and continuing education materials on zoonotic diseases for veterinarians and producers to improve the ability of the animal health community to recognize symptoms of diseases in animals and the humans they associate with.
• Developing reference materials and continuing education materials on foreign animal diseases for veterinarians and producers to improve the ability of the animal health community to recognize and respond to incursions of foreign animal diseases.
• Training a group of medical professionals and veterinarians to give continuing education lectures to other MDs, DVMs, public health specialists, first responders, nurses and animal producers at local, state and regional meetings around the country.
• Organizing a rapid response team of retired USDA and University personnel who could be called upon in an animal health emergency.
• Identifying weak links where public health hazard can occur in the plant-derived food products (sprouts, produce, edible bean and corn, organic production, seed and grain industries etc.), developing an awareness program to educate the industry and the public, and refining public-health strategies in the event of a food-borne illness outbreak.

Affiliated faculty and their areas of research/expertise are listed below.