**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NEW RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION SUPPORTING SAFE HOME FOOD PRESERVATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR PREVENTING FOOD BORNE ILLNESS AND PROMOTING HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY. WHILE RESEARCH INTO COMMERCIAL FOOD PRESERVATION HAS KEPT PACE WITH NEW TASTES, PRODUCTS, AND TECHNOLOGIES, DEVELOPMENT OF SAFE PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING AND PACKAGING FRESH FOODS FOR LONG TERM STORAGE IN THE HOME KITCHEN HAS PRECIPITOUSLY DECLINED IN THE PAST TWO DECADES. THE MODERNIZING HOME FOOD PRESERVATION CONFERENCE WILL REIGNITE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION WORK RELATING TO HOME FOOD PRESERVATION, RESULTING IN A SHARED REGIONAL RESEARCH AGENDA FOR RELEASING NEW GUIDELINES FOR HOME FOOD PRESERVATION THAT ADDRESS CURRENT COMMUNITY NEEDS AND CONTEMPORARY TECHNOLOGIES.THE CONFERENCE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL BY CONVENING FOOD SAFETY RESEARCHERS AND EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE WESTERN REGION FROM FEBRUARY 29 TO MARCH 2, 2024 IN PORTLAND, OREGON. INVITED PRESENTATIONS FROM EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS WILL HIGHLIGHT EMERGING TRENDS IN HOME FOOD PRESERVATION, INCLUDING NEEDS REPORTED FROM COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED BY USDA RESEARCH AND EXTENSION OUTREACH. INVITED PRESENTATIONS FROM FOOD SAFETY RESEARCHERS WILL DISCUSS CURRENT RESEARCH CAPACITY AND WILL HIGHLIGHT EMERGING RISKS RESULTING FROM CONSUMERS' RELIANCE ON UNTESTED TECHNIQUES FOR HOME PROCESSING AND PACKAGING. IN-DEPTH WORK SESSIONS WILL BE TASKED WITH PRIORITIZING A REGIONAL RESEARCH AGENDA AND ELUCIDATING PROTOCOLS FOR VALIDATING SAFE PROCESSING AND PACKAGING RECOMMENDATIONS APPLICABLE IN DIVESRE HOME KITCHEN ENVIRONMENTS. ONGOING REGIONAL COLLABORATION TO FURTHER THE ESTABLISHED RESEARCH AGENDA WILL BE SUPPORTED BY REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE WESTERN REGION FOOD PRESERVATION WORKING GROUP.