U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory: Beltsville, MD
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    About Us
                        Mission, Facilities, and Expertise
                                    Five Appropriated Projects
                                    Research Staff (by project group)Search small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory Research





- Pachepsky, Yakov
- Sharma, Manan
- Patel, Jitu
- Kim, Moon
- Santin-Duran, Monica
- Food Safety, (Animal and Plant Products) (108)

Research Project: **Location:
                            Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory** Project Number: 8042-42610-001-012-S
                        
                        Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement Start Date: Jun 1, 2023
                        
                        End Date: May 31, 2027 **Objective:**
                        
                        Microbial fate and transport of pathogens are potential causes of irrigation water impairment and consequent food safety, public health, and agricultural enterprise sustainability issues. Research is needed to improve available tools for monitoring and managing microbial water quality for agricultural management practices. The objectives of this work are 1) to develop biofilm, chemical-based, and sensing technologies for the detection, survival, fate, transport, and persistence of major contaminants (i.e., pathogens, organic and inorganic contaminants); and 2) to apply technologies in water resource management systems with emphasis on protecting food safety. **Approach:**
                        
                        In collaboration with ARS, the cooperator will develop and apply biofilm-based, chemical-based and sensing technologies to the following water resource focus areas: Remote Sensing (e.g., Micro-Electrochemical Systems), Agricultural Built Environment (irrigation systems, conveyance systems, filtration systems), Streams, and Irrigated Produce Farms. 

The research will be focused on (1) development of real-time biofilm sensors for remote deployment, (2) development of biofilm-based detection of organic contaminants and pathogens in irrigation water (i.e., bovine vaccines, pesticides, forever chemicals), (3) characterization and management (treatment alternatives) of organics, solids, and pathogens in water supplies for irrigation settings, (4) application of high throughput pathogen detection and modeling to irrigation settings, and (5) microbial community and water chemistry changes associated with reduced water flow and increased temperature in irrigation systems.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov