Students from Iowa State University鈥檚 (ISU) Dean鈥檚 Global Agriculture & Food Leadership Programme 2025 have completed an intensive four-week experiential learning programme at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome. This year's programme has been led by a number of ISU faculty members, including Carmen Bain, Associate Dean, Dean for Academic Innovation, and Shelley Taylor, Director, Office for Global Engagement, among others. Hosted by FAO鈥檚 Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division, the programme aimed to develop concise and effective food safety messages to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and residues of veterinary drugs in foods (RVDF), both critical issues interacting each other in ensuring food safety and protecting public health worldwide.
The students鈥� project culminated in the creation of a series of short, evidence-based messages designed to support food safety authorities, especially in low- and middle-income countries, in effectively communicating key AMR and RVDF issues to farmers, veterinary drug industries and the general public. These messages, which can later be integrated into a comprehensive FAO handbook, are intended to strengthen science communication efforts and promote awareness of AMR鈥檚 impact on food safety, as well as the importance of addressing veterinary drug residues in foods, as a foundational step in AMR management and food safety control.
Throughout their stay in Rome from 19 May to 13 June 2025, students engaged in weekly in-person meetings at FAO headquarters, where they were introduced to the complexities of international food safety regulation, AMR policy frameworks and behavioural science applications in public health. The meetings also featured interactive learning experiences, including a role-play simulation on AMR communication.
The final meeting on 12 June 2025 marked the culmination of the students鈥� efforts, as they presented their elevator pitches in front of FAO officers and faculty members, celebrated their achievements and discussed the path forward for applying their work in real-world contexts.
鈥淗aving a fresh set of eyes on some of our most challenging issues helps us re-examine our approaches and ensure that our messages are relevant and impactful,鈥� Masami Takeuchi, Food Safety Officer at FAO, highlighted the importance of student engagement in the programme. 鈥淭he ISU students brought energy and creativity that inspired all of us at FAO. Addressing residues of veterinary drugs in foods is a key part of managing AMR risks and protecting consumers. This project allowed us to see how concise, science-based communication can empower food safety authorities to tackle these issues effectively,鈥� she stated.
鈥淭his collaboration provided our students with an exceptional opportunity to contribute to real-world food safety challenges while strengthening Iowa State University's global engagement with FAO,鈥� said Smaranda Andrews, Associate Teaching Professor at ISU. 鈥淭he experience challenged our students to think creatively about science communication in food safety, a skillset that is increasingly essential in today鈥檚 interconnected world,鈥� added Shawn Dorius, Professor at Iowa State University and co-director of the programme.
The success of this programme was made possible through the collaboration and dedication of colleagues across FAO, including Jefferey Lejeune, Jorge Pinto Ferreira, Emmanuel Kabali, Raffaella Tavelli and the invaluable contributions from colleagues in Nepal (Sakar Shivakoti) and Pakistan (Riasat Wasee Ullah) who joined the preliminary online meetings. FAO鈥檚 behavioural scientists including Cortney Price and Julia Hammann from the Office of Innovation, as well as Anica Buckel from the FAO country office in Kenya, provided key insights on applying behavioural science approaches to the project, enriching the students鈥� learning and broadening FAO鈥檚 capacity-building reach.
The Director of the FAO鈥檚 Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division, Corinna Hawkes expressed her appreciation for the students鈥� contributions and emphasized that the collaboration exemplifies the value of integrating academia with global food safety work. By bridging the gap between education and practice, the programme not only built critical thinking skills in the next generation of food safety professionals but also strengthened FAO鈥檚 mission to build safer and more sustainable food systems worldwide.
For more information on FAO鈥檚 food safety initiatives including the topics of residues of veterinary drugs in foods as well as AMR-related work, visit the .
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