Practical Solutions International

Managing microbiological risk in the growing environment

2026 Course dates: 4th March (Sandy, Bedfordshire), 11th February (Dublin)

Tutors: David Kennedy (highly experienced technical director, ex-chair of Red Tractor), Ian Finlayson (highly experienced technical director and auditor)

Managing microbiological risk in the growing environment is aimed to provide Technical Managers at retail and supplier level with practical skills to reduce risk. The course will be highly participative and will use practical examples to enable learning to be easily applied to business situations.

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Learning Outcomes

  • Identify causes of past outbreaks in fresh produce and learnings for today
  • Consider how changes can affect risk eg climate change, growing systems, water scarcity
  • Identify controls suitable for pathogens of interest
  • Complete a field-level risk assessment considering all aspects of the local environment
  • Consider appropriate controls for irrigation and manure management
  • Identify suitable cleaning methods for equipment and hygiene controls for workers
  • Develop a suitable testing plan and interpret results

Other details

Cost: £435 in person (ex. VAT)

Cancellation Policy

  • 4+ weeks notice: Candidates can rebook for another course
  • 2–4 weeks notice: 50% charge
  • <2 weeks notice: 100% charge

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Course Content Outline

Key learnings from past outbreaks
  • Review of outbreaks in fresh produce
  • Identified sources of the pathogen
  • Learnings for today’s growing environment
  • Products on RASFF and foods identified as “High risk foods”
Changes which impact risk
  • Climate change – extreme weather events
  • Different growing systems
  • Global trade
  • Water scarcity
Pathogens of interest in fresh produce
  • Listeria
  • Salmonella
  • E.coli and STEC
  • Viruses – (Hep A and Norovirus in particular)
Risk assessment process
  • Site selection (consideration of neighbouring activities)
  • Animal ingress / bird activity
  • Record keeping
Irrigation
  • Risk – water sources and neighbouring activities
  • Water treatment processes (validation and verification of treatment)
  • Monitoring and inspecting the water sources’ condition
  • Application methods
Nutrient management
  • Animal, human and green waste
  • Biosolids
  • Fertilisers
  • Agricultural materials
Machinery / Harvest Equipment
  • Maintenance
  • Cleaning Process and verification
People
  • Hygiene practices
  • Personal behaviour (cultural and educations challenges)
  • Staff facilities
  • Managing ill-health
Testing
  • Developing a testing plan
  • Interpretation of results