Award Data

A primary test that can be performed in orange groves to identify carrier insects and trees infected with the bacteria that causes citrus greening, and secondary test providing more detailed information that can subsequently be performed in central labs using sequencing-based technology,will be established and the feasibility of performing these tests and identifying infection in the carrier insec ...

Small to medium farm/ranch development and electricity demand are a closely related phenomenon, and when combined with responsible environmental protection, renewable energy projects become an excellent means for sustainable economic growth. Renewable energy projects benefit rural communities in multiple areas by creating new employment opportunities, stimulating economic activity, reducing enviro ...

This USDA/NIFA Phase I will focus on developing CBB Repel, a novel organic, semiochemical pest management tool to support the small coffee grower of Hawaii--and the globe--by offering protection for their crops against the devastation caused by CBB. By controlling coffee berry borer infestations, we will directly support small scale coffee farms which are often family owned and relied upon as the ...

When the average American sits down to a meal, it is likely that a portion of the food in front of him or her is the result of pollination by honeybees. Bee species pollinate 71 of the 100 crops that provide 90% of human food for 146 countries. Insect pollinators, as a whole, have an estimated global worth of $200 billion and the contribution of honeybee pollination cannot be overstated. Although ...

The goal of this USDA NIFA SBIR Phase I project is to develop CLB Repel, a safe, organic, and highly effective repellent product for the management of chicken litter beetle (CLB), Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer, that operates by a completely different mode of action than any other control strategy currently on the market. CLB Repel is formulated with the potent beetle anti-aggregation semiochemical ...

The current issue this research addresses is the lack of an affordable method for small and midsize farms to plant cover crops into standing cash crops. Cover crops are crops planted either into standing cash crops (such as corn or soybeans) or in between cash crop seasons that are planted for reasons other than harvesting for grain. Using cover crops can help reduce the amount of irrigation and c ...

With the global population expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, there has been a strong drive in recent years toward more technologically advanced, data-driven agriculture, enabling farmers to grow more and better food with less labor, water and pesticide inputs, and less harm to the environment. Modern farming relies extensively on automated technologies, such as wireless networks to monitor soi ...

Commercial aquaponic farms are currently being established across the U.S. The global aquaponics industry was valued at $300 million in 2015 and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 30% for the next several years, passing the $1 billion mark by 2020. Forty-six percent of aquaponics farmers currently utilize deep-water raft systems and fabricate their own rafts from construction-grade polystyr ...

Obesity, especially childhood obesity, is a growing public health concern in the United States affecting more of the population each year. Obesity is also associated with increased risk of other health issues including diabetes and heart disease. Food choices impact all of these health problems. Consumption of whole grain food products provide a multitude of benefits, including a lower risk of obe ...

Forest restoration, or reducing the vegetation density of overgrown forestland, is effective at reducing high-severity wildfire risk across the western US. Restoration can also increase the water yield from forests in many different geographic regions, but the effects are highly variable depending on the individual watershed location, vegetation, and climate characteristics.Accurate, affordable, a ...