** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT EMPLOYS SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH TO FOSTER INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION, ADVANCING AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM SECURITY, WITH A FOCUS ON THE MEATPACKING INDUSTRY. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EXPOSED VULNERABILITIES WITHIN THE MEATPACKING SECTOR, SUCH AS PLANT CLOSURES AND LABOR SHORTAGES, WHICH NOT ONLY IMPACTED WORKER SAFETY BUT ALSO DISRUPTED THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN, AFFECTING CONSUMERS AND THE ECONOMY AT LARGE. RESEARCHING AND ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES ARE CRUCIAL NOT ONLY FOR ENSURING THE WELL-BEING OF WORKERS BUT ALSO FOR MAINTAINING FOOD SECURITY AND RESILIENCE ON A LARGER SCALE. BY EMPLOYING SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH METHODS, INCLUDING SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS, THISPROJECT SEEKS TO ENHANCE INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION AMONG REGULATORY BODIES LIKE THE USDA AND OSHA. THIS COLLABORATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT ENHANCING WORKER AND FOOD SAFETY WITHIN THE MEATPACKING SECTOR.ALIGNED WITH AFRI'S PROGRAM AREA OF FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH (FSNH) AND FOCUS AREAS OF 1) FOOD SAFETY AND DEFENSE (A1332) AND 2) SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES (A1642), THIS PROJECT ASSESSES WORKER AND FOOD SAFETY ISSUES TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS. IN DOING SO, I WILL EMPLOY A ONE HEALTH FRAMEWORK, A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH THAT RECOGNIZES THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF HUMAN, ANIMAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY EFFORTS TO ADDRESS COMPLEX HEALTH CHALLENGES THROUGH INTEGRATED RESEARCH, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES. I WILL USE SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS TO MAP AGENCY COLLABORATIONS AND IDENTIFY COLLABORATIVE PATHWAYS FOR STRENGTHENED FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE.INMAPPING EXISTING COLLABORATIONS AMONG REGULATORY BODIES LIKE THE USDA AND OSHA, I WILL IDENTIFY GAPS AND BARRIERS TO INTERAGENCY COORDINATION, CRUCIAL FOR ADDRESSING WORKER AND FOOD SAFETY CONCERNS EFFECTIVELY.BY ANALYZING POLICIES REGULATING THE MEATPACKING SECTOR AND OVERLAPPING WORKER AND FOOD SAFETY ISSUES, I WILL INTEGRATE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS TO PROPOSE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT INCREASING INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.THIS PROPOSED PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FOSTER ENHANCED COORDINATION AMONG AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS CHALLENGES INHERENT IN OUR CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM, ENCOMPASSING WORKER SAFETY, ANIMAL WELFARE, AND SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE - ALL OF WHICH WERE MAGNIFIED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.ENHANCING COMMUNICATION AND INTERAGENCY CHANNELS FOR DOCUMENTING AND RESPONDING TO WORKER SAFETY ISSUES IS CRITICAL TO NOT ONLY PROTECTING WORKERS, BUT ALSO TO THE SECURITY OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM.THE ULTIMATE GOALS OF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT ARE TO ENHANCE THE RESILIENCE OF THE MEATPACKING SECTOR AND PROMOTE SAFER WORKING CONDITIONS AND HIGHER FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS. ACHIEVING THESE GOALS WOULD NOT ONLY BENEFIT WORKERS BY ENSURING THEIR WELL-BEING BUT ALSO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH, SUPPORT ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND CONTRIBUTE TO ENVIRONMENTAL S,USTAINABILITY BY STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCEOF OUR FOOD SYSTEM. BY ADDRESSING VULNERABILITIES WITHIN THE MEATPACKING INDUSTRY, THIS PROJECT AIMS TO CREATE LASTING POSITIVE IMPACTS THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE CHALLENGES POSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ENSURING A MORE RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.