Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-00520, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Cutler, Christopher (Dalhousie University), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Nova Scotia|Nouvelle-Écosse, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for Universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : Through large-scale outdoor production in tanks, Acadian Seaplants Limited (ASL) is the worlds largest_x000D_
independent manufacturer of the seaweed Chondrus crispus, a prized food product that sells for $50-100/kg in_x000D_
international markets. International markets, mainly buyers in Japan, demand exceptionally high quality, and_x000D_
have low tolerance for insects and insect fragments, essentially requiring 100% pure seaweed ingredients. ASL_x000D_
currently experiences low-level contamination from insects of its outdoor tanks that hold and grow C. crispus._x000D_
Numerous post-harvest quality control measures are used to address this problem, but low levels of insects and_x000D_
insect parts continue to persist in the salable C. crispus product. ASL therefore needs to reduce the quantity of_x000D_
insects entering outdoor production tanks prior to harvest, but does not have adequate understanding of the_x000D_
problem to enact interventions. The proposed research will investigate pre-harvest factors influencing insect_x000D_
presence in a high-value marine plant product. The research will address four questions identified by ASL: (1)_x000D_
What insect groups pose the largest threat to product quality?; (2) What spatial or management factors most_x000D_
strongly explain insect incidence?; (3) What temporal variation is associated with insect incidence in harvested_x000D_
product?; and (4) Can modified tank design or fencing offer scope in reducing insect contamination?_x000D_
Through a comprehensive season-long survey (1-3), and an ecological study of insect flight habits (4), we hope_x000D_
to, respectively, quantify the factors which explain the presence of insects in harvested product, and propose_x000D_
potential solutions to limit it. ASL believes this proposed research will provide insight and direction for_x000D_
optimizing product quality, via informing pre-harvest management practices., program purpose french : Through large-scale outdoor production in tanks, Acadian Seaplants Limited (ASL) is the worlds largest_x000D_
independent manufacturer of the seaweed Chondrus crispus, a prized food product that sells for $50-100/kg in_x000D_
international markets. International markets, mainly buyers in Japan, demand exceptionally high quality, and_x000D_
have low tolerance for insects and insect fragments, essentially requiring 100% pure seaweed ingredients. ASL_x000D_
currently experiences low-level contamination from insects of its outdoor tanks that hold and grow C. crispus._x000D_
Numerous post-harvest quality control measures are used to address this problem, but low levels of insects and_x000D_
insect parts continue to persist in the salable C. crispus product. ASL therefore needs to reduce the quantity of_x000D_
insects entering outdoor production tanks prior to harvest, but does not have adequate understanding of the_x000D_
problem to enact interventions. The proposed research will investigate pre-harvest factors influencing insect_x000D_
presence in a high-value marine plant product. The research will address four questions identified by ASL: (1)_x000D_
What insect groups pose the largest threat to product quality?; (2) What spatial or management factors most_x000D_
strongly explain insect incidence?; (3) What temporal variation is associated with insect incidence in harvested_x000D_
product?; and (4) Can modified tank design or fencing offer scope in reducing insect contamination?_x000D_
Through a comprehensive season-long survey (1-3), and an ecological study of insect flight habits (4), we hope_x000D_
to, respectively, quantify the factors which explain the presence of insects in harvested product, and propose_x000D_
potential solutions to limit it. ASL believes this proposed research will provide insight and direction for_x000D_
optimizing product quality, via informing pre-harvest management practices., agreement title english : Investigation and prevention of insect contamination of a high-value marine plant product, agreement title french : Investigation and prevention of insect contamination of a high-value marine plant product, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 23459.0, agreement start date : 2017-06-14, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada