Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** food safety practices and rapid,…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** food safety practices and rapid, low-cost pathogen detection technologies are needed to detect contamination of leafy greens (LGS) in soilless systems. This integrated project will develop effective/efficient procedures to rapidly detect listeria monocytogenes (LM) pre-/post-harvest in soilless systems using a novel aptameric-nanosensor. Potential LM detection interferents will be resolved by iterative assay adaptations. Nanosensor detection performance will be validated using standard methods. Comparison of system factors (nutrient solution quality, plant roots/shoots, and microbiome quality) from controlled research and soilless LGS producer systems will be used to reveal key factors contributing to growth/survival and LM detection interferents. Using machine learning, we will adapt/modify the nanosensor and smart-phone technologies to develop a cost-effective, rapid listeria monocytogenes detection system for use by producers. Dose challenge inoculation and microbial community trials will reveal relative contamination risks and effects of preventive controls on pathogens and maintenance of system productivity. Umes and DSU faculty and students will be trained in pathogens detection, soilless system quality controls, thus gaining real-world experiences in food safety, microbiome research, and safe food production. Umes and DSU will develop/deliver e-learning workshops on pre-/post-harvest produce safety for students in preparation for professional post-graduate positions. Delmarva growers will be trained in best management practices, and pre-/post-harvest food safety preventive controls for soilless systems. Training/technical assistance in good agricultural practices, good handling practices, and food safety plans will be provided to limited-resource produce growers/market managers serving 1890 institution communities. Thus, this project will build capacity at umes and DSU in safe soilless LGS production.