STRATAGEM: STANDARDIZING TECHNIQUES TO REINFORCE AGRICULTURAL-RUNOFF THREAT ASSESSMENTS FOR GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MICROORGANISMS

The long-term aim of STRATAGEM is to develop a standardized suite of genetic watermarks and laboratory bench tests available for product developers, agricultural professionals, and appropriate regulatory agents to support genetically engineered microorganism (GEM) threat assessment screens by tracking and assessing associated biosecurity concerns. These laboratory assays are designed to complement in silico prediction tools to inform the product development life cycle. Five key objectives support this overall aim:Objective 1. Develop and test genetic watermarks to enable mark-recapture of GEMs during threat assessments and field deployments;Objective 2. Establish batch-suspended media degradation tests similar to chemical regulatory risk assessments to inform biological threat assessments;Objective 3. Establish batch attached-growth biofilm degradation tests;Objective 4. Establish a model agriculture runoff cycle (combination of sewer, activated sludge, and stream systems) to test hazard assessments; andObjective 5. Develop a framework for utilizing this ecological threat assessment technique to inform the management and regulation of GEMs.