Dr. Marcos X. Sanchez-Plata

Dr. Sanchez-Plata is an Associate Professor of Global Food Security and Food Safety at Texas Tech University. Previously, he served at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, and Texas A&M University in different food research, teaching and technical assistance roles. He received his PhD and MS in Food Science and Technology; and his MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and his degree in Food Biochemistry from the Central University of Ecuador. Dr. Sanchez-Plata’s research focus is on in-plant validation of antimicrobial interventions and their effects on pathogen control, quality and product shelf-life in foods by conducting in-plant biomapping and environmental-mapping studies, and microbial challenge testing studies measuring microbial indicators, pathogen surrogates and matrix specific-pathogens to support decision making in risk-based food safety management systems. In addition, Dr. Sanchez coordinates the delivery of a series of industry workshops globally including the Meat School, Pork School, Poultry School and Egg School programs for integrated development of quality, safety and yields in different commodity value chains. Dr. Sanchez-Plata served as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) and the Poultry Industry Food Safety Council (PIFSCo).