On Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Michigan hosted a one day seminar in Southeast Michigan focusing on the food and agriculture sector. U.S. and Canadian businesses and agencies involved with the varied components of producing, selling, transporting, and protecting food and agriculture provided information about current challenges and future trends, and attendees from local, state, and federal agencies as well as Canadian officials and the private sector interacted to better understand the risks, consequences, and opportunities related to the food and agriculture sector and the region.

The Southeast Michigan / Canadian border area is an important economic center as a hub for movement of people, food and agricultural products, and other critical infrastructure activities. During an era of reduced resources, it is increasingly important for alignment of activities of all levels of government and the private sector. In this seminar, attendees received updates on current initiatives by multiple sectors including intelligence issues, public health, transportation, and the private sector.

This event was made possible through Department of Homeland Security funds through the Urban Areas Security Initiative grant allocated to the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development and is part of Michigan’s ongoing efforts to engage the public and private sectors of critical infrastructure. The day was also sponsored by the Canadian Consulate.

Below is the agenda followed by links to the presentations given at the Border Gateway Summit.

AGENDA

• Opening Remarks:
  Joann Givens, Acting Regional Director, Central Region, Food & Drug Administration
  Roy Norton, Consul General of Canada
  Gordon Wenk, Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
  
  
• Overview of Threats, Vulnerabilities, Risks & Consequences:
  Mark Davidson, Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinator, Federal Bureau of Investigation
  
  
• Transportation & the Food & Agriculture Sector
  Kirk Steudle, Director, Michigan Department of Transportation
  
  
• Food & Drug Administration – Import Issues and Food Safety Modernization Act
  Joann Givens, Acting Regional Director, Central Region, Food & Drug Administration
  
  
• Canadian Perspectives – Import, Export & Border Issues
  Latika Mogla, Ontario Area Import Coordinator, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  
  
• Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection
  Dan Lundgren, Agriculture Operations / Liaison Officer, CBP
  
  
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
  Food Safety Inspection Service
  • Connie Kiefiuk, Program Investigator
  • Krishna Cabine, Import Surveillance Liaison Officer
  Animal Plant Health Inspection Service – Dr. Dan Harpster
  
  
• Great Lakes Border Health Initiative – Cross Border Health Diane Krueger, PhD, GLBHI / EWIDS Project Coordinator, Michigan Dept. of Community Health
  Private Sector Panel
  • Frank Schreurs, President & CTO, Guelph Food Technology Centre
  • Joseph R. Darden, PhD, Vice President, Food Safety, Mastronardi Produce
  • Scott Pautuk, Export Business Director, Dawn Food Products, Inc.
  • Wayne Bauer, Director of Safety & Security, Star of the West Milling Company
  
  

Presentation materials from the summit are found below along with additional presentations that may be of interest:

• Michigan's Food & Agriculture Border Gateway Summit - Evaluation Summary
• Great Lakes Border Health Initiative - PowerPoint
  
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Border Gateway Summit PowerPoint
  
• Michigan’s Food & Agriculture Border Gateway Summit PowerPoint - Director Kirk T. Steudle, P.E., Michigan Department of Transportation
  
• Importing Meat, Poultry & Egg Products Into the United States - USDA - PowerPoint
  
• Food Safety Modernization Act: Imports - Joann M. Givens, Acting Regional Director, FDA
  
• US Customs and Border Protection: Detroit Field Office Overview - PowerPoint
  
• USDA FSIS OPEER: Compliance and Investigations Division (CID)
  
• CBP Field Operations: Protecting America 24/7 - Video: This video provides an overview of CBP Field Operations, one of three uniformed law enforcement branches of U.S. Customs and Border Protections.