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IN THIS ISSUE Georgia Tech Receives OSHA Grant to Develop Safety Training Program for Third-Shift Poultry Processing Workers Poultry Industry Efforts Help Deliver Best Safety Record Ever Prototype Sensor Under Development to Automatically Detect Chlorine Levels in Poultry Chiller Water Repetitive Stress: Improved EWAS Takes Aim at Worker Injuries Vision-Based Screening System Detects Liner Material in Processed Foods New Year’s Resolution: A Better Approach to Food Safety Inspection? Poultry Industry and OSHA Sign Workplace Safety Agreement Did You Know? Visit ATRP at 2008 International Poultry Expo

Next year, the Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP) turns 35. The program began in 1973 when a legislative conference committee (responding to a request by the Georgia Poultry Federation) appropriated $100,000 to be contracted to Georgia Tech through the Georgia Department of Agriculture. A year later, the program was continued when the General Assembly agreed to give the Georgia Department of Agriculture regular line funding to continue the contract activity. In 1981, line funding for the program was transferred to the Board of Regents for direct allocation to Georgia Tech under the name “Agricultural Research Program” (ARP). Eight years later, ARP officially became ATRP.

Today, the program boasts a budget in excess of $1.8 million; employs more than 40 researchers and support personnel; and focuses research efforts in five key areas: advanced automation technologies, food safety technologies; environmental and biological systems, information systems technologies, and workplace safety. The program also provides technical assistance to firms and individuals in the poultry industry across Georgia. These assists include simple inquiries regarding information or help needed to address a problem and extensive on-site consultations in which researchers collect data and provide a full report on their findings and recommendations. In-plant energy assessments are also provided to help companies identify strategies for reducing energy usage and costs.

ATRP is conducted in cooperation with the Georgia Poultry Federation and follows the lead of its Poultry Advisory Committee. The Poultry Advisory Committee is composed of poultry industry leaders who give their time to help the program identify research topics that best address priority industry needs. The committee meets annually to hear updates on program research efforts and to discuss challenges and future direction with program personnel.

ATRP’s mission is to promote the economic growth of Georgia agribusiness (especially the poultry industry) through: