** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** FRESHWATER SCARCITY IS A THREAT TO FOOD SECURITY. NON-CONVENTIONAL WATER SOURCES INCLUDING SALINE/BRACKISH WATERS RECLAIMED MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER AND URBAN STORMWATER CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY USED TO GROW HIGH VALUE CROPS IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE (CEA). THESE TECHNOLOGIES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO OPTIMIZE FRESHWATER USAGE IN AGRICULTURE. WE WILL STUDY THE SOCIAL IMPACTS (FOCUSING ON CONSUMERS GROWERS/PRODUCERS AND POLICY-MAKERS) OF INTEGRATING CEA AND NON-CONVENTIONAL WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES BY ANALYZING STAKEHOLDER PREFERENCES FOR NON-CONVENTIONAL WATER USE AND THEIR PERCEIVED COSTS AND BENEFITS.THE FIRST PHASE OF OUR STUDY INVOLVES IDENTIFYING SUITABLE HIGH-VALUE CROPS AND ESTABLISHING WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS NECESSARY FOR CULTIVATING CROPS USING NON-CONVENTIONAL WATER SOURCES. SUBSEQUENTLY WE WILL EVALUATE VARIOUS TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS FOR EACH NON-CONVENTIONAL WATER SOURCE TO ENSURE WATER SAFETY AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY. USING THE INSIGHT GAINED FROM OUR TECHNOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT WE WILL ANALYZE CRITICAL METRICS SUCH AS THE UNIT COST OF WATER PRODUCED AND CROP YIELD IN CEA SYSTEMS UTILIZING NON-CONVENTIONAL WATER. WE WILL SURVEY PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS BY INCORPORATING THIS TECHNOLOGICAL DATA TO GAUGE MARKET RESPONSES AND PREFERENCES. OUR STUDY REGION ENCOMPASSES NINE STATES IN THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES (AR LA MS AL TN GA SC NC FL) ALLOWING US TO EMPIRICALLY ASSESS HOW PREFERENCES AMONG PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS RESPOND TO THE INTRODUCTION OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. THIS RESEARCH AIMS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND STAKEHOLDER ACCEPTANCE FOR PROMOTING NON-CONVENTIONAL WATER IN CROP PRODUCTION ULTIMATELY PAVING THE WAY FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AMIDST FRESHWATER SCARCITY CHALLENGES.