This project aligns with the sbir/sttr phase i program goals to protect plants by minimizing major diseases (2.1), such as grapevine red blotch virus (grbv), and fostering agricultural innovation…

Obi-K9 Biodetection Technologies LLC received a $174,890 Phase I Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (CFDA 10.212), awarded September 30, 2025, with a completion date of September 29, 2026. The project focuses on developing an innovative biodetection solution to address Grapevine Red Blotch Virus (GRBV), a significant threat to the wine industry that reduces sugar content and yield in infected vines. During Phase I, the company will identify and analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by GRBV-infected grapevines across varying viral loads and grape varieties, then develop synthetic VOC-based training aids for detection dogs capable of screening large batches of grapevines before planting.

The core deliverable is a canine biodetection system that enables early identification and elimination of GRBV-infected vines before planting, thereby preventing virus spread and preserving wine quality and grower profitability. Building on Obi-K9's existing expertise in detection dog training for COVID-19 and agricultural diseases, this technology will be applicable to both public and private sector operations, including pre-shipment screening of grapevines entering new states. If successfully validated in the planned Phase II expansion, the solution is expected to transform large-scale vineyard management by providing an efficient alternative to currently unavailable large-scale testing methods for GRBV detection.

This project aligns with the sbir/sttr phase i program goals to protect plants by minimizing major diseases (2.1), such as grapevine red blotch virus (grbv), and fostering agricultural innovation (2.3) through biodetection technology. Grbv is a significant threat to the wine industry reduces sugar content and yield in infected vines, resulting in lower-quality wine and financial losses for growers. Currently, no efficient large-scale testing method exists to identify and eliminate infected vines before planting. This project addresses this by identifying volatile organic compounds (vocs) emitted by grbv-infected vines and developing synthetic VOC-based training aids for detection dogs. These dogs will be trained to screen large batches of grapevines, enabling early detection of infections and preventing the virus to spread.phase i focuses on understanding vocs associated with grbv infection and how they vary across viral loads and grapevine varieties. Insights gained will enable the creation of effective training aids for canine biodetection. In phase II, dogs will be trained to detect infected vines, validating their accuracy and scalability for commercial use.building on OBI K9's success in using detection dogs for covid-19 and agricultural diseases, this approach could transform the grapevine industry by allowing dogs to efficiently screen large batches, identifying infected vines before the virus spreads. The solution will be viable for both public and private sectors, enabling dogs to screen grapevines before entering new states, protecting red blotch disease-free regions. The expected outcome is a reduction in virus spread, improving wine quality and profitability for growers and wineries.