September 29, 2009 - 22:14 AMT
US Food security experts to share their experience with Armenian specialists
SerfSave food security training project was launched in Yerevan on September 29. The project, which will last 3 days, was launched by USAID/CAPS in cooperation with American University's (AUA) Extension Department and Armenian Restaurant Association (ARA).

"The project aims at ensuring food security, as well as transferring American specialists' up-to-date knowledge to their Armenian colleagues," CAPS Director Artak Kazaryan said, adding that all restaurants in America possess such certificates.

At that he noted that program participants had been selected by competition. Their total number is 20.

Training session will be followed by an exam scheduled for October 9. Successful participants will have be given the chance to further their education and awarded international trainer's certificate. This is the third re-qualification program organized by CAPS.

Project covers 5 main spheres: fundamentals of food security, cross pollution and allergens, personal hygiene, time and temperature, decontamination and sanitation.

Virginia TEK Mahmood Khan, a leading Professor from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, has been invited to Armenia to deliver the course.

In April last year, Mahmood Khan amended several university curricula, assisted in the introduction of new training methods, as well as delivered courses on food security and marketing for representatives of the sphere in Armenia. Similar courses are also scheduled for April next year.