The National Center for Electron Beam Food Research hosted the 1st International Workshop titled "Food Irradiation: Discussing the International Research and Policy Agenda" on March 30 - April 2, 2004 on the Texas A&M University campus.

The workshop aimed to develop a technology roadmap so that irradiation technologies including E-Beam, X-ray and gamma radiation can be exploited to the maximum to reduce food-borne illnesses. This workshop specifically aimed at bringing together researchers from academia and industry as well as end-users from the food and allied industries and regulatory agencies in a relaxed setting on the A&M University campus.

More than 35 participants from around the U.S. and overseas attended the workshop. The event included invited presentations by leading experts covering topics related to the future research and technology needs in food irradiation, public perceptions of food irradiation and the European outlook on food irradiation. The workshop also included a poster session, breakout groups and a tour of the food irradiation facilities on campus.

The charge of the break-out groups was to identify the kinds of activities to conduct in terms of irradiation technology, governmental regulations and education/public outreach. The facilitators encouraged the break-out group participants to be as specific as possible in their details. The workshop participants used the lists from the three break-out group categories and prioritized them on a five-point priority scale.

A third round of iteration is currently in process. Check back soon for the expert consensus of food irradiation research priorities for the next decade.