ESTABLISHING AN EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE TO STRENGTHEN THE MPP INDUSTRY WORKFORCE IN THE CARIBBEAN

The main goal of the herein proposed work is to foster the Meat and Poultry Processing (MPP) industry by developing professionals with the required knowledge and skills to enhance this production sector. To that end, the following objectives have been identified:Establish an undergraduate MPP minor concentration - Design and implement a minor concentration includes industry approved certifications in food and employee safety and an integration component (i.e., internship or reserch project). Students will be provided with the necessary tools to work in an existing MPP facility or establish their own business, if they so desire.Offer a "787 (Puerto Rico's area code) Workshop Series" to provide an experiential experience in a lab environment - Interactive and demonstrative activities in a protected environment to expand classroom theoretical principles and acquire hands-on practice.Offer a "787 Study Tour" to experience Puerto Rico's meat and poultry industry - Activity designed to provide insight and exposure into active MPP businesses to understand their operation and to identify potential areas of growth and innovation.Develop model blueprints to streamline the establishment of small MPP plants - Model documents of MPP plants to facilitate business plan development.