Stream 1: 14:30 – 15:10
“Food Industry Requirements; Good, Better, Best!”
Juliana Elliott NHACCP International
Juliana is a Food Technologist with a Masters in Engineering (Food Technology) and a passion about food safety. Juliana has worked in the food industry for over 25 years and is currently working at HACCP International as Technical Manager. HACCP International is a leading food safety organization specializing in certification of non-food products and services for use in the food industry. In the role of Technical Manager, Juliana assists license holders with technical enquiries and oversees technical evaluations of products and services submitted for the purpose of HACCP International product certification. Juliana has a background in food manufacturing, quality assurance and research and development roles in a variety of different food industries. Juliana enjoys helping HACCP International's license holders and the food industry understand how certified products and services make a contribution to food safety.
Effective pest control is an important part of any Food Safety Management Programme and considered to be an essential pre-requisite for CODEX HACCP and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) management systems. It is common knowledge that food must be protected from pests and their by-products, however, there are additional food safety risks that must be considered when servicing a food facility which will be discussed in the session. These include toxic and allergenic issues, as well as conduct in and around food, food preparation areas and food processing equipment. Furthermore, pest technicians themselves can, all too easily, introduce hazards when servicing food handling facilities. Failures in pest control application remains one of the most common non-conformances issued to food businesses during a food safety audit.
To help ensure pest management companies deliver a service that meets strict compliance requirements demanded by best practice in the food industry, Juliana will discuss the food industry expectations and offer guidance as to what makes a pest management service good, better or the best?
Stream 1: 15:10 – 15:50
“25 Years of the Bed Bug Resurgence: An Update on the Global Situation“
Dr David Lilly Ecolab
David Lilly is a Staff Scientist with Ecolab Global RD&E, based out of Australia. In this role he is responsible for delivering innovative pest management solutions across the Asia Pacific and Greater China regions. He has over 18 years' experience in urban pest management, including both in the auditing and development of tailored pest management solutions, and providing qualified technical support to high-needs customers. David has extensive experience with many aspects of commercial pest management, including specialized knowledge in the field of filth and fermentation flies, ants, rodents, stored product insects, bed bugs, insecticides, and insecticide resistance. David holds a PhD from the University of Sydney, a Master of Entomology from the University of Queensland, and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of NSW.
As we approach 25 years since the earliest signs of the ‘modern’ bed bug resurgence, it is worth considering the significant advancements that have been made during this time in our understanding of the biology and ecology of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius and C. hemipterus), and the role that AEPMA and the Australasian pest management industry played in battling this old (but new) pest. Therefore, in this presentation, I will look back at what we discovered about this pest and our industry during the challenging early years, what we learned along the way, and how we adapted to better manage and limit bed bug impacts. I will also provide an update on some of the latest trends in bed bugs from the last few years, including the impacts of the Covid-19 re-opening and recent social media bed bug ‘hysteria’.
Stream 1: 15:50 – 16:30
“Stored Product Insects and the Practical Use of Pheromones“
Tom Meuller Insects Limited Incorporated, USA
Coming from a family with such an extensive stored product pest background, Tom Mueller has spent much of his life exposed to the challenges stored product insects create for the food safety industry. After receiving a 4-year Degree in Business and Marketing from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, USA, Tom began on a path into the business world only to find himself back in the familiarity of pest management. Since then, Tom has been surrounded by some of the best IPM minds in the industry and spends his time in the field working with pest management professionals as well as food manufacturing professionals to ensure successful execution of extensive pheromone programs.
He is the owner of Insects Limited and The Center for Stored Product protection in the USA, a facility that conducts practical research on stored product insects and creates practical solutions to help mitigate their presence.
He regularly presents the subject of pheromones to international and domestic pest management companies, university technical conferences, state credit conferences, and private industry corporations. He is currently the Vice President at Insects Limited where he works with companies to help solve pest problems through utilizing integrated approaches.
In the vast world of pest management, stored product protection and stored product insects are niche, but have the potential for extreme economic impact. In the presentation, “Stored Product Insects, and Practical Uses of Pheromones” we will start by discussing the 5 most impactful insects that are a threat to our food supply, the importance of their behaviour, biology, and food preferences, and how that knowledge can translate to mitigation practices. This presentation will transition to practical ways to monitor these insects and what we can expect from our pheromone programs. Attendees will walk away with the understanding of sex and aggregation pheromones, kairomones, how they are different, and which insects utilize these types of chemical communication. The audience will understand the importance of selecting the right pheromone manufacturer and the impact of quality on collecting insect population trends to help make decisions for their pest management program.