By Blake Jackson
Martin Bucknavage, a senior program specialist for food safety and quality at Penn State Extension, has been honoured with the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA).
The alliance, a collaborative group of industry, academic, and government stakeholders, was created to develop training and outreach programmes supporting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act.
Bucknavage, who works in Penn State’s Department of Food Science within the College of Agricultural Sciences, received the award for his significant contributions to food safety.
Bucknavage played a pivotal role in updating the Preventive Controls for Human Food curriculum, a vital resource used by food operations globally to maintain product safety. Furthermore, Bucknavage led the redesign of the FSPCA’s Technical Assistance Network, enhancing its capacity to support extension professionals nationwide.
At the 2024 FSPCA annual conference, Bucknavage, along with Rick Kralj, a senior food safety educator at Penn State Extension, will also be awarded the Certificate of Achievement for their collective work on the updated curriculum.
Additionally, Penn State Extension has been recognised for its exceptional performance in delivering FSPCA training, having reached over 1,000 participants since the programme’s inception. With its robust food safety training offerings, Penn State Extension continues to be a key leader in advancing food safety education and support across the industry.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-valentinrussanov
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