THE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE (CEA) FRUIT AND VEGETABLE MARKET HAS AN ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF OVER 18%. RECENT FOODBORNE OUTBREAKS AND RECALLS REPORTED IN CEA FACILITIES WITH FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT PLANS PROVIDE EVIDENCE THAT ADDITIONAL RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO IDENTIFY THE RISKS WITHIN THE CEA SYSTEM. BECAUSE CEA IS HIGHLY VARIABLE IN PRACTICE - FROM LOW-TECH TO LOW-COST HIGH TUNNELS, TO COMPLEX AND INTEGRATED INDOOR GROWING IN REPURPOSED BUILDINGS - MORE RESEARCH WITHIN THE CEA INDUSTRY IS NEEDED TO IDENTIFY THE FOOD SAFETY RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH COMMODITIES, PRACTICES, AND CONDITIONS ACROSS ALL TYPES OF CEA OPERATIONS. ON APRIL 13TH AND 14TH, 2023, 85 PARTICIPANTS FROM THE FOOD SAFETY PRODUCE RESEARCH COMMUNITY, THE CEA INDUSTRY, AND REGULATORY PARTNERS WILL CONVENE AT THE OHIO CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE CENTER AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOR A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE CALLED S.A.F.E.R. (STRATEGIZING TOADVANCEFUTUREEXTENSION ANDRESEARCH) CEA. IN SUPPORT OF USDA'S RESEARCH PRIORITY DEVELOP METHODS TO IDENTIFY, PREVENT, OR REDUCE INTENTIONAL CONTAMINATION OR ADULTERATION OF FOODS, THIS CONFERENCE WILL EMPHASIZE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SECTORS, LOCALES, AND EXPERTISE LEVELS TO FORGE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR FOOD SAFETY STRATEGIES WITHIN CEA PRODUCE OPERATIONS OF EVERY SIZE. THIS CONFERENCE WILL REVIEW CURRENT KNOWLEDGE, PROVIDE FORUMS FOR SHARING AND DISCUSSING NOVEL INSIGHTS, AND DEVELOP ACTION ITEMS (WITH TIMELINES) TO ADDRESS FUTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION GAPS FOR REDUCING THE BURDEN OF FOODBORNE INFECTIONS FROM CONTAMINATED CEA PRODUCE. A PEER-REVIEW WHITE PAPER AND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS WILL SUMMARIZE THE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION GAPS WITHIN CEA FOOD SAFETY.