This $299,917 federal Project Grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program supports a research project at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) to enhance food safety. The project aims to develop practical methods for creating bacteria-killing surface coatings using stainless steel and gasket polymers, test the antimicrobial efficacy of these surfaces against foodborne pathogens like Listeria and Salmonella, and evaluate their durability, chemical resistance, and cleanability. The goal is to provide a foundation for applying these physics-based, bacteria-killing surfaces to complex food processing equipment like conveyor belts and rubber gaskets, reducing the risk of bacterial contamination and improving food safety. The project is scheduled to run from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026.
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