** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MICROORGANISMS (GEMS) ENABLE NEW APPROACHES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF NUTRIENTS, CARBON, PESTICIDES, AND WASTE WITHIN AGRICULTURAL SETTINGS TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SURROUNDING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NUTRITION.THESE BIOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS OFTEN REPLACE MORE ENERGETICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY COSTLY CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES.HOWEVER, BIOLOGICAL-BASED INTERVENTIONS POSE A SPECIALIZED RISK IN THAT THE REMEDIATION TECHNIQUE MAY PROLIFERATE BEYOND THE TARGET AREA.THEREFORE, APPROPRIATE THREAT ASSESSMENTS MUST BE AVAILABLE TO PRODUCT DESIGNERS AND REGULATORS TO ENSURE THAT THE BEHAVIOR OF GEMS IN AGRICULTURAL SETTINGS ARE PREDICTABLE, CONTROLLABLE, AND MONITORABLE.IN RESPONSE TO THIS NEED, THE OBJECTIVES OFSTRATAGEMFOCUS ON DEVELOPINGTHE TOOLS AND FRAMEWORK TO SUPPORTGEM THREAT ASSESSMENTS. SPECIFICALLY, THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF STRATAGEM IS TO DEVELOP A STANDARDIZED SUITE OF DNA WATERMARKS AND LABORATORY BENCH TESTS TO ASSIST PRODUCT DEVELOPERS, AGRICULTURAL PROFESSIONALS, AND REGULATORY AGENTS IN FINGERPRINTING NEW GEMS, PREDICTING THEIR BEHAVIOR IN THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ULTIMATELY TRACING THE PRODUCT AFTER RELEASE. WITH THESE TOOLS RESULTING INTHE UNAMBIGUOUS TRACKING OF THE GEM, STRATEGEM FURTHER SUPPORTS SOUNDECOLOGICAL THREAT ASSESSMENTS AND REGULATORY MONITORING CAMPAIGNS. OVERALL, STRATAGEM EXPLORES THE SURVIVAL AND FITNESS OF GEMSWHEREAS DEMONSTRATING A DNA WATERMARKING METHOD THAT CAN ASSIST FUTURE LARGE-SCALE DEPLOYMENTS OR FIELD STUDIES.