Computing the end of e. coli contamination

Vegetables are key to a healthy and nutritious diet. However, eating raw leafy greens increases the risk of foodborne illness caused by pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli.

Researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) developed the first dynamic systems model to understand the pathway of E. coli in leafy green production. This model simulates the effects of soil, irrigation, cattle, wild pigs, and rainfall on a hypothetical farm.

“Results of our study can help prevent crop contamination at the pre-harvest stage, reducing the number of leafy green related illnesses in the future,” said Abani K. Pradhan, Ph.D. of UMD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

NIFA funded the research through the Specialty Research Crop Initiative.

Read more on the UMD E.coli study here. 

Soybean research may reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer

Nitrogen is a nutrient that helps plant growth, yet overuse of nitrogen fertilizers can harm the environment. Mechthild Tegeder, a biologist with Washington State University (WSU), has developed a way to increase soybean quality and yield by using the plant’s unique ability to pull nitrogen from the air.

Unlike crops that rely on natural and artificial nitrogen in soil, soybeans and other legumes contain rhizobia bacterioids in their root nodules that convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere.

Tegeder’s research team created a model to increase the flow of nitrogen from specialized bacteria in soybean root nodules to the seed-producing organs. Tegeder and biological sciences graduate Amanda Carter discovered that the plants grew more when exposed to increased rates of nitrogen.

“The biggest implication of our research is that by ramping up the natural nitrogen allocation process we can increase the amount of food we produce without contributing to further agricultural pollution,” said Tegeder. “Eventually we would like to transfer what we have learned to other legumes and plants that humans grow for food.”

Read more about the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) WSU research here. 

Foot-and-mouth disease research reveals new insights

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly infectious disease that affects cloven-hooved domesticated animals such as pigs and cows. Symptoms include lesions in the mouth and on the hooves, weight loss, and ill health. The disease can have devastating financial effects on farmers.
 
University of Connecticut (UConn) scientist Steven Szczepanek, in collaboration with researchers from Plum Island Animal Disease Center, worked on a universal vaccine that may cover various types of the virus. Funding was provided by NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

Read more about the UConn research here. 

Eating beans and rice may reduce cancer

Clinical trials at Colorado State University (CSU) confirm that people who ate food enhanced with navy beans and rice bran may gain some protection against colorectal cancer. Past studies on animals showed similar benefits. The research was funded through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

“The evidence is there in animals and we can now study this in people. The question is, what are we doing to achieve adequate levels of intake of these foods,” said Elizabeth Ryan of Colorado State University.

The next research step will examine the effects of cooked navy bean powder and rice bran on colon tissue of people who had colorectal cancer and are at high risk for recurrence.

Read the CSU article here.

Technology improves soil health

Agricultural engineer Kendall Kirk at Clemson University created free software to help farmers track field soil samples. When farmers collect samples in the field, they can use the software’s GPS function to select representative samples from the field management zone, an area containing common soil characteristics.  

“What you’ll have is a soil sample ID for each sampling zone. Send that to Clemson and you’ll get it back with a nutrient recommendation,” said Kirk. “These soil samples are guiding your nutrient application rates, your potassium and phosphate applications. At the end of the day, we are trying to boost profitability.”

Accurate soil data will help farmers maximize yields or lower operating costs by optimizing nutrient inputs.

Read more about the Clemson research here. 

Improving food quality 

The NIFA-supported  Multistate Research Fund supports collaborative research among land-grant colleges and Agricultural Experiment Stations. One project, Engineering for Food Safety and Quality, has investigated food materials, processing technologies, and developed mathematical models to optimize food safety and quality. 

Learn more about the research through this infographic.

Making a difference in Louisiana

The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SUAREC) works to improve the impact of land-grant programs in Louisiana. The center conducts basic and applied research, and offers a range of community programs, such as hands-on training for farmers, youth development programs, urban forestry and natural resources education, and health and nutrition education.

Watch the Southern University video here