Increasing the Capability and Capacity of Microbiological and Chemical Testing to Support an Integrated Food Defense and Food Safety System Microbiology Discipline, Microbiology Capability/Capacity Development Analytical Track Project Summary / Abstract The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Consumer Protection Laboratory (CPL) propose to strengthen federal efforts to protect the national food supply and enhance the state's regulatory effectiveness in food safety as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act and the Food Emergency Response Network. ODA-CPL shall increase their existing capabilities and capacities through the incorporation of and implementation of Cyclospora testing on routine human and animal food products. We expect this process to be completed in the first year of the grant cycle. ODA-CPL seeks to address three issues during FY21. First, ODA-CPL shall purchase new equipment that is required of the FDA method. Second, we will develop a training plan for our scientists so that we can effectively train them on FDA BAM method 19b. Lastly, once the principal investigator determines the scientists can perform the method, we shall have the scientists participate in a proficiency exercise as a demonstration of competence. We look forward to adding this analyte to our capabilities. It will be an immense enhancement to our program and help us better serve our clients and federal partners.