More than eight years after Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act, the Food and Drug Administration, industry and outside scientists are still struggling to figure out the best way to ensure the water used for irrigating and packing fresh produce is safe.

Many farms can already provide the tracking, but incompatible tracking systems and food industry gaps create critical weaknesses in the chain.

The U.S. and the EU both want a new trade pact to bring together two of the largest economic forces in the world, but agriculture is standing firmly in the way.

USDA and the Food and Drug Administration say they’ve taken a key step in streamlining produce safety requirements for farmers and making oversight of food safety stronger and more efficient.