CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 08/26/03

UGA food science building set for grand opening

By Cat Holmes
University of Georgia

The University of Georgia Department of Food Science and Technology will mark the completion of a $4.2 million building addition and the $2.4 million renovation of its previous facilities with an open house and ribbon cutting in Athens Sept. 5.

"The improvements to the food science building will make UGA even stronger in the field of food safety," said UGA president Michael F. Adams. "The safety of our food supply is critically important. I'm proud that the University of Georgia is poised to make a real difference."

"The addition and renovations will enhance food science research and extension outreach capabilities," said Gale Buchanan, dean and director of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

State-of-the-art labs

The addition houses four state-of-the-art microbiology labs. In three biocontainment level 2 labs, researchers can work with foodborne pathogens like Listeria, E coli 0157:H7, Salmonella and Campylobacter. In the biocontainment level 3 lab, scientists can work with more restricted foodborne hazards like botulism.

"This is a new capability for the Athens campus and will certainly further our ability to do cutting-edge food safety and food-processing research," said Rakesh Singh, food science and technology department head.

"The additional facilities, along with our recently renovated food-processing pilot plants, greatly improve our ability to conduct programs designed for economic development," he said.

Outreach classrooom

A new extension outreach classroom, which can seat 70 people, serves a variety of needs: short courses, workshops and certification programs. It has been in use since June and the first two programs were filled to capacity.

"Many of these programs are designed to help small businesses get on their feet, while others focus on bringing industry personnel up-to-date," Singh said. "But they're also for anyone who is interested. We work with a lot of nontraditional students, small-business folks and industry folks."

The addition was funded through the Georgia Food Processing Advisory Council. FoodPAC is a group of Georgia state agencies, colleges and universities and private food businesses. It supports Georgia's food processing and allied industries.

Program

The open house and ribbon-cutting celebration features a 10:30 a.m. program with Adams, Buchanan, Singh, Georgia Poultry Federation President Abit Massey, Georgia Agribusiness Council President Gary Black and food sciences graduate student Beth Bland.

Tours will follow at 11 a.m. Refreshments will be provided. For more on the event, call (706) 542-2574 or e-mail marianw@uga.edu.

(Cat Holmes is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)

Cat Holmes was a science writer with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Gale A. Buchanan Dr.
Mark A. Harrison
Rakesh Singh
SLF2 CAES News
Spotting trouble: How Georgians can help combat spotted lanternfly 12/24/24 Emily Cabrera
Native to several Asian countries, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania, likely arriving via imported goods. Since its arrival, the pest has spread to 15 states in the Eastern U.S., now including Georgia. While they do not bite or sting humans or animals, University of Georgia experts stress that early detection, prevention strategies and timely interventions are crucial to minimizing the spread and impact of this pest on a variety of plants.
Top research stories of 2024 CAES News
Top UGA research stories of 2024 12/23/24 Olivia Randall
As the new year approaches, it’s time to reflect on 2024, a year full of exciting research achievements at the University of Georgia. UGA researchers have made their marks examining crucial topics like the health of water resources and urban infrastructure in the face of climate change, the causes of higher suicide rates among young Black men, and an alarming trend in rates of Type 2 diabetes, among other groundbreaking work. Let’s take a closer look at 12 of the most impactful stories of the past year.
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.