August 3, 2007

LANSING - Governor Jennifer Granholm today announced that Michigan is the 13th state to join the Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture--a Midwest consortium of state agriculture, animal health, emergency management, and homeland security officials working together on agriculture emergency preparedness and response activities.

“The food and agriculture industry is critical to Michigan’s economy, generating more than $60 billion annually and supporting 1.5 million jobs. This multi-state partnership allows us to further enhance food safety and protect the public as well as Michigan’s second-largest industry,” said Granholm. “I’m thrilled Michigan is now part of a multi-state, collaborative effort where we can contribute our expertise and learn from others to strengthen the entire region’s food safety net and protect this critical industry.”

“As a major gateway for imported products, Michigan is uniquely situated to add to the regional efforts to protect our food supply and the state’s agriculture industry,” said Phyllis Mellon, Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) acting director. “MDA’s involvement in the partnership will maintain consumer confidence in the safety of the food chain and increase response capabilities during food safety and other agriculture-related emergencies.”

The multi-state partnership was initiated by the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division to identify how states could work together to prepare for agricultural emergencies such as natural disasters, agricultural terrorism, foreign animal diseases, or invasive plant pests.

The collaborative partnership focuses its efforts on developing joint planning, training and exercise initiatives, sharing planning tools and resources to promote consistency, and preventing duplication of effort.

"We are very pleased to have Michigan in the Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture," said David Miller, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Administrator. "Michigan's experience with food and agricultural emergencies will bring a valuable perspective to the Partnership."

The partnership coordinates efforts on all levels of government and has a proven record of success in developing animal and plant disease materials, coordinating response planning on a regional basis, and increasing capabilities to respond to agriculture disasters.

For more information, visit the partnership Web site at www.agpartnership.org.