**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** UNITED STATES VETERANS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY CONDUCT, HARDWORKING NATURE AND DISCIPLINE. AGRICULTURE, ESPECIALLY POULTRY AND FRESH PRODUCE FARMING, OFFERS A GATEWAY FOR VETERANS TO RAPIDLY TRANSITION AND SUCCESSFULLY REINCORPORATE INTO AMERICAN SOCIETY. OUR TEAM WORKS WITH SMALL, AND BEGINNING FARMERS IN RURAL AREAS NATION-WIDE REACHING >600 FARMERS, A MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE MILITARY VETERANS. ONE OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES THAT STIFLES THEIR BUSINESS IS THE LACK OF EFFECTIVE, ECONOMICAL AND EASY TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES FOR POULTRY PRODUCT AND FRESH PRODUCE DECONTAMINATION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT WITH THE FOODBORNE PATHOGENS SALMONELLA, CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI AND ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 SINCE TOGETHER THESE PATHOGENS CAUSE OVER 2 MILLION ILLNESSES ANNUALLY IN THE U.S THROUGH CONSUMPTION OF CONTAMINATED FOOD PRODUCTS. CURRENT DECONTAMINATION STRATEGIES USING QUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS OR CHLORINE WASH ARE NOT COMPLETELY EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING PATHOGEN LOAD ON FOOD PRODUCTS. ADDITIONALLY, THESE CHEMICALS POSE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH HAZARDS FOR FARMERS THAT INCLUDES THE RISK OF CANCER. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO PROVIDE VETERAN FARMERS WITH NOVEL STRATEGIES FOR EFFICIENT POULTRY PRODUCT AND PRODUCE DECONTAMINATION. OUR APPROACH COMBINES THE ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE (GRAS) STATUS ANTIMICROBIAL GAS OZONE WITH NOVEL MICROBUBBLE TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP NATURAL, SAFE AND RAPID ACTING SANITIZERS WITH SIGNIFICANT EFFICACY AGAINST AFOREMENTIONED PATHOGENS. IN ADDITION, WE PLAN TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND EXTENSION/OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO MEET FARMER NEEDS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH EFFICIENT TOOLS FOR SUCCESSFUL POULTRY AND FRESH PRODUCE FARMING.

University Of Connecticut, Storrs CT

Investigators