This Project Grant award, valued at $617,327, was provided by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) federal grant program (CFDA 10.310). The project aims to develop a simple, sensitive, and low-cost technique for detecting mycotoxins, which are toxic compounds produced by certain molds and fungi that can contaminate food products like cereals, nuts, fruits, and coffee beans. The technique utilizes unique metallic nanoparticles that serve as enzyme mimics to generate color signals that can be easily detected and quantified, providing an affordable alternative to current sophisticated and expensive mycotoxin analysis methods. Successful completion of this 3-year project, starting on August 1, 2024, will benefit the food and agriculture industry by offering an effective solution for monitoring and preventing mycotoxin contamination in food products.
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