Award Data

Maintaining the expected quality and safety of food products is often difficult due to potential chemical and biological contamination. Of particular concern is the threat of food poisoning. Over 40 different foodborne microbial pathogens cause an estimated 30 million cases of human illness each year costing >$12 billion annually. Over the last 20 years, food-borne diseases caused by microbes have ...

Plants are under almost constant attack by fungal pathogens in the environment and economic losses are a frequent consequence of this assault. To avoid or reduce economic loss, synthetic chemical fungicides have been traditionally used to keep the development of disease in check. However, the impact of chemical pesticides on the environment and human health can be harmful; this impact has been wel ...

Oscilla Power, Inc. (OPI) is developing a utility-scale wave energy harvester that is enabled by low cost and readily-available magnetostrictive alloys. T his device, which utilizes no moving parts, has the potential to deliver predictable quantities of electric power to coastal utilities, industrial users, and remote facilities at costs competitive with coal or gas. The Phase I project demonstra ...

This SBIR Phase II project targets early intervention in math and science for preK-3 students in high need rural areas. The research timeline will design, build and validate a web-based Early Math and Science Preparation and Intervention Program that that trains and develops the underlying facilities required for future math learning. Working in tandem with national leaders in cognitive neuroscien ...

Diligent is responding to the USDA FY2011 Research Priority: "Developing and using interactive, information technology for nutrition educators and teachers to increase nutrition awareness and improve health and intervention strategies to address obesity among children." Diligent Consulting, Inc., a Service Disable Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), addresses this strategic goal of improving th ...

World oil reserves are concentrated in just a few countries, primarily in the Middle East which holds nearly two-thirds of the world's oil reserves. With a rising demand in industrialized nations and an even faster increasing demand from developing countries (e.g. India, China, etc.), the pressure on these oil reserves increases and could serve as a basis for future conflicts between nations ...

Shading vegetables and fruits can reduce temperatures resulting in improved fruit set, increase fruit size and quality, and reduce water consumption. Shading materials for reducing light intensity or transmission have been used extensively in the nursery industry as well as with large commercial growers of high value fruits and vegetables for many years. The physiological processes of plants have ...

Agrochemical sales is a vast world market which exceeded $119 billion in sales in 2009 and is expected to grown at a rate of 10.4% in the next 3 to 5 years. China and India are the world's largest users of agrochemicals. This has allowed Asia to dominate the market and account for 43% of sales. The US is the second largest revenue generator, bringing in approximately 20% of global agrochemica ...

Commercial producers of nursery crops, plant seed, and food crops all require assurance of healthy planting stock. To address this need, laboratories, institutions and agencies, worldwide, use a variety of methods to examine plant materials and demonstrate that seeds, cuttings, and plants test free of pathogens. Such tests provide crops a passport to travel and give the grower confidence that a he ...

Devices resulting from this development will greatly enhance the development of food crops designed for effective water utilization and thus facilitate the genetic improvement in food yield per volume of water. Efficient use of water in agriculture can be facilitated through accurate root zone water content monitoring and control. Crop yields and crop quality can benefit through the prevention of ...