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Food Safety Pilot Plant (BSL2)

Researcher works in a lab

The Food Safety Pilot Plant is a 2,200 square-foot BSL-2-certified facility. Designed to be versatile, this space has drop-down utilities and is capable of enclosure to accommodate a wide variety of food safety scenarios to support both research and commercial projects. This facility has a loading dock with leveler, a 15 foot clear high bay space, and can accommodate equipment as wide as 7-11 feet. We are actively seeking partnerships with industry partners to conduct food safety testing and evaluate commercial equipment and processes. This facility was designed for challenge and validation studies in a controlled environment. 

Features

Biosafety cabinet

Recirculating brine chiller

Singer chamber vacuum packager

Pass through sterilizer

Oven/smokehouse

Pilot scale ethylene oxide fumigation chamber

Pilot scale dry steam sterilization chamber

Deli slicer

Stainless steel three-compartment sink

Refrigerated deli case

CO2 incubator, reach-in

UV light system w/ pump

Located in the Human and Agricultural Biosciences Building, the Food Safety Pilot Plant's certification for use with Biosafety Level 2 human pathogens makes it a unique experiential training space for pilot-scale processing with pathogens, not just surrogates.

Food Safety Pilot Plant

Location

HABB1 Building 130 (0924)
1230 Washington St.,SW
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Contact

Monica Ponder
(540) 231-5031
mponder@vt.edu