Insect infestation significantly impacts global food storage, leading to economic losses and health risks

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Prairie View A&M University $100,000 on December 1, 2025, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to develop nanopreservatives from plant-derived oils for insect-free food storage environments.

The project identifies effective plant oils—including neem, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, and cedarwood—with inherent insecticidal properties to replace chemical pesticides in food storage. Work focuses on targeting the Indian meal moth, red flour beetle, and ants through extraction method development, implementation in storage settings, and evaluation of effectiveness and safety. Expected outcomes include reduced insect infestation, decreased food spoilage, minimized chemical pesticide use, and improved postharvest conditions while building faculty expertise in innovative research methods.

Performance occurs at Prairie View, Texas from December 1, 2025, through November 30, 2027. The 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program strengthens research, Extension, and teaching capacity at 1890 land-grant universities, historically Black institutions established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890.

Traditional chemical pesticides are effective but have adverse effects on nontarget organisms and sites. This proposal presents a strategy using plant-derived oils and nano-preservatives to create insect-free food storage environments. By developing nanopreservatives from natural plant oils with inherent insecticidal properties the initiative aims to offer an alternative and safe methods to chemical pesticides. Key objectives include identifying effective plant oils for repelling or eliminating storage insects, developing extraction methods implementing these oils in food storage and evaluating their effectiveness and safety. Target insects are the indian meal moth red flour beetle and ants with potential plant oils including neem, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and cedarwood. Expected outcomes include reduced insect infestation economic benefits from decreased food spoilage and minimized chemical pesticide use leading to safer food storage and improved postharvest conditions. The project will foster an alternative pest management practices and boost faculty expertise in innovative research methods and technologies.