Pest management needs to be driven by data to be effective and efficient. Too often information is collected but not used to its fullest extent. As USDA ARS Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research Unit Research Leader James Campbell explained, "Since so much of pest management is focused on prevention, data can provide quality control information."
Additionally, he said, "Most food facilities and pest management professionals have the ability to collect a lot of information, but it is important to have the capabilities to use this information, and this requires both the technological tools and also the expertise," he said. This is particularly important in the collection and assessment of trends. "Trending data can be especially useful since pest activity changes over time for a variety of reasons."
Trending data can provide information as general as whether or not the program is working, and it enables targets to be established to help guide programs: e.g., Is it working to meet specifications? Where and when are breakdowns occurring? What changes need to be made to bring program back in line? The targets or guidelines can be based on different criteria and be applied differently to different areas.
"Data is also a very useful learning tool since it enables you to test different approaches and see how they work," Campbell said. For example: How frequently do you need to perform a fumigation? The question can be tested by reducing aerosol treatment frequency and tracking the data to see how this impacts pest activity. Such assessment requires an inquisitive approach to using the data.
Following are five valuable ways that documentation and data can improve a food processing facility's IPM program.
1. Pest identification and location. Electronic mapping tools are available that enable facility maps to be overlaid with data pinpointing pest hot spots in the plant and the degree of activity at each. With this data, pest pressure can be more easily identified, tracked, and eliminated. Some tools also provide a geo-spatial view with satellite imagery of the area, enabling a full picture of the environmental factors that can affect the pest management program.
2. Trending. As noted above, pest-activity trending (catches, sightings, and evidence) and condition monitoring provide valuable data for continuous improvement of the IPM program, particularly when tools, such as electronic logbooks are used, which enable more advanced, visually driven trending.
3. Compliance. When data and trends are analyzed, an evaluation of the results of the pest management program can be compared against third-party and regulatory audit requirements, and used for the pest management preventive controls of the FSMA-required written Food Safety Plan.
4. Action. Strategic analysis and application of these trends can result in data-driven modifications, enabling quick corrective action and improvements to the pest management program. For example, the analysis may suggest that inspections be increased in a particular area, equipment be moved or added, service be conducted more frequently, etc.
5. Communication. A critical component of any integrated pest management program is the partnering of the service provider and the food or beverage facility, so quick, accurate, and comprehensive communication is essential. With today's technology enabling such electronic communication for all stakeholders, it would not only be difficult for pest management professionals to meet today's increasing requirements without it, but ensuring that your service provider applies technology in your plant is simply a good manufacturing practice.