**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SALMONELLAIS A MAJOR CAUSE OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH MANY INFECTIONS RESULTING FROM MEAT PRODUCTS.SALMONELLACONTROL HAS BEEN HINDERED BY A LACK OF CROSS-DISCIPLINARY, APPLIED RESEARCH. DUE TO AN INCREASING NEED FORSALMONELLACONTROL IN MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTION, THE USDA'S AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE HAS DEVELOPED ASALMONELLAGRAND CHALLENGE (SGC) CONSISTING OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF SCIENTISTS, INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS, AND UNIVERSITY COLLABORATORS. THE GOAL OF THE SGC IS TO PROVIDE MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCERS ACTIONABLE DATA, STANDARDIZED METHODS, AND EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION TOOLS TO REDUCESALMONELLAASSOCIATED WITH MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS. DUE TO THE DIVERSE GROUP OF COLLABORATORS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS, THE SGC HAS NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND WORK IN PERSON. THEREFORE, WE ARE APPLYING TO THE FOOD SAFETY AND DEFENSE CONFERENCE GRANT TO BRING TOGETHER THE SGC AND COLLABORATORS FOR THE FIRST TIME.THE SPECIFIC GOALS OF OUR MEETING ARE FACILITATING THE SGC TO MEET IN PERSON TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS THROUGH NETWORKING; UPDATING STAKEHOLDERS AND COLLABORATORS ON RESEARCH PROGRESS THROUGH RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS; AND DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH PLANS AND GOALS FOR THE SGC USING THE VALUABLE INPUT OF STAKEHOLDERS AND COLLABORATORS DURING FEEDBACK SESSIONS. THIS CONFERENCE WILL ALLOW US TO SHARE RESEARCH AND DEVELOP COLLABORATIONS WHICH DIRECTLY ADDRESS PRIORITIES SUCH AS DEVELOPING NEW TOOLS AND METHODS FORSALMONELLARESEARCH AND DEVELOPING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO REDUCE THE PRESENCE OFSALMONELLA.