MITIGATION OF FOODBORNE PATHOGENS IN WATER AND FRESH PRODUCE VIA APPLICATION OF BIOCHAR

Objective 1: To prevent manure runoff into surface and, otherwise, irrigation waters, examine the use of biochar as an antimicrobial and filtration intervention, for example, combining biochar filtration with ARS pre-existing zero-valent water filtration technology. [NP 108, C1, PS5] Objective 2: Examine the use of adding biochar to compost piles, in order to inactivate pathogens in the compost but especially the problematic ⿿toes� of manure piles. [NP 108, C1, PS5] Objective 3: Determine if the physiological state of bacterial cells on produce affects the potential to remove them during processing. That is, determine if the time of compost application to a field, with and without biochar, affects the level, type and resistance of contamination on produce.