Eduardo Gutierrez Rodriguez

Bio

Dr. Gutierrez-Rodriguez brings over two decades of expertise in research, extension, and business within the realm of food safety systems, particularly focusing on fresh produce and minimally processed food environments. His research is dedicated to understanding the microbial ecology of human pathogens in both farm and food processing settings. This includes examining microbial interactions, risk assessment, and the development of remediation practices aimed at sustaining fruit and vegetable production while minimizing the transfer of human pathogens into the food supply chain. In addition to his research, Dr. Gutierrez-Rodriguez has collaborated extensively with the food industry in Latin America and the U.S., supporting training related to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in areas such as the fresh produce, preventive controls for human food, and foreign supplier verification regulations. His industry involvement extends to guiding research and development, as well as quality assurance departments, in both the U.S. and Costa Rica. He has been instrumental in establishing benchmarks for on-farm process validation, risk assessment, water systems, co-management, and practices in washing fresh produce, sanitation, bioremediation, and preservation. His work has also spanned in assisting the food and chemical industries in the U.S. with the registration of antimicrobial products with the FDA and EPA. This includes strategizing to reduce the transfer of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within diversified farming systems, composting processes, and ready-to-eat foods. Dr. Gutierrez-Rodriguez’s food safety systems research and education efforts emphasize the interconnectedness of human health with the health, stability, and biodiversity of our food and agricultural ecosystems. His approach underlines the direct impact of human activities on climate, land use, global trade, and animal husbandry, which in turn affect our food and water supplies, as well as the overall health and disease susceptibility of consumers.