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Tim Jackson Assumes Presidency of the International Association for Food Protection

Dr. Tim Jackson assumed the presidency of the International Association for Food Protection at the conclusion of IAFP 2023.

Dr. Jackson is a Senior Science Advisor for Food Safety with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, joining in 2022. In this role, he supports programs in outbreak investigations, root cause analysis, and prevention strategies.

From 2017–2021, Dr. Jackson served as Vice President of Food Safety, Regulatory, and Social Compliance for Driscoll’s team in North America and South America. He previously served as the Director of Food Safety for Nestlé US and Nestlé Canada from 2009–2017. From 1998–2003, he headed the Microbiology Laboratories at the Nestlé Quality Assurance Laboratory for the U.S. and Canada. From 2004–2008, he was Chief Industrial Microbiologist for Nestlé’s global operations in Vevey, Switzerland.

Dr. Jackson has been actively involved in IAFP since joining in 1990 as a graduate student. He has participated in and led several Professional Development Groups, and has organized, convened, and presented at IAFP’s Annual Meeting, IAFP’s European Symposium on Food Safety, and other international and Affiliate meetings. He previously served as IAFP President from 2019–2020. He was elected as IAFP President-Elect 2023–2024 in March to fill the position due to the resignation of Dr. Jose Emilio Esteban from the IAFP Executive Board.

Dr. Jackson received his B.S. in Biology from Abilene Christian University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Food Microbiology from Texas A&M University.


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Crop scouting is a vital part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), helping identify pests, optimize input use, and protect yields. Scouts act as the grower’s field observers, offering timely insights.

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Preparation includes understanding field history, gathering tools, and setting communication expectations. In the field, scouts assess plant health, pest presence, and environmental stress using systematic patterns. Accurate documentation and clear reporting are essential. Tools like soil surveys, weather data, and pest calendars support decision-making. Ultimately, crop scouting builds trust, supports sustainability, and ensures informed, timely responses to field conditions.