Hydroxyl-radical process for controlling plant and human pathogens, extending shelf-life and nutritive quality of fruit and vegetables cultivated in vertical farming systems

垂直耕作代表着农业的下一次革命，无论在一年中的哪个时间或地理位置，都有望有效地生产各种作物。垂直农业内部的封闭生长条件缓解了社区在气候变化中的粮食安全问题和可持续农业问题。尽管垂直养殖的集约化性质带来了经济优势，但它也可能对单核细胞增多性李斯特菌、沙门氏菌和产毒大肠杆菌等病原体构成食品安全问题。在垂直农业作业中，被认为是封闭的环境提供了对病原体的保护，但现实情况是，种子和生长基质等农业投入可能含有病原体，最终可能导致食源性疾病暴发。与水培作物有关的几起备受瞩目的疫情和召回事件证明了这一点。下列项目将提供基于可在生长过程的不同阶段应用的羟基自由基处理的干预措施，在减少病原体、刺激植物生长、增加作物的营养和货架期方面带来积极的好处。本研究将评估两种基于羟基的处理方法，即羟基自由基活化水和气相羟基自由基法。羟基自由基已被证明是一种抗菌剂，它可以潜在地模拟植物体内的防御系统，以防止疾病，并在收获后处理过程中增加农产品的健壮性。此外，这个过程很快(&lt；30秒)，不会像氯这样的传统消毒剂那样留下残留。基线研究将把人类病原体引入种子、生长基质和正在生长的作物，以确定它们的命运。由于产品的经济意义，目前的研究将重点放在莴笋和草莓上。然后将应用羟基自由基处理，以评估垂直耕作的投入物是否能在对植物健康产生积极影响的同时成功去污。不同生产阶段的治疗组合将在商业设施中进行验证。

Vertical farming represents the next revolution in agriculture with the promise of efficient production of a diverse variety of crops irrespective of the time-of-year or geographical location. The enclosed growing condition within vertical farming relieves communities of food security issues and sustainable agriculture in the midst of climate change. Although the intensive nature of vertical farming brings economic advantages it can also pose a food safety issue with pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and toxigenic E. coli. Within vertical farming operations it is considered the contained environment provides protection against pathogens, the reality is that agricultural inputs such as seed and growth substrates can harbor pathogens that could ultimately lead to foodborne illness outbreaks. This has been demonstrated with several high-profile outbreaks and recalls linked to hydroponically cultivated crops. The following project will provide interventions based on hydroxyl-radical treatments that can be applied at different points in the growing process that bring positive benefits in relation to pathogen reduction, stimulation of plant growth, increase in the nutritive and shelf-life of crops. The research will evaluate two hydroxyl-radical based treatments, namely, hydroxyl-radical activated water and gas phase hydroxyl-radical process. Hydroxyl-radicals have been shown to be antimicrobial which can potentially simulate the defense systems within plants to protect against disease and increase robustness of produce during post-harvest handling. Moreover, the process is rapid (<30 seconds) and does not leave residues like traditional sanitizers such as chlorine. Baseline studies will introduce human pathogens onto the seed, growth substrate and growing crops to establish their fate. The current study will focus on baby-leaf lettuce and strawberries due to the products economic significance. Hydroxyl-radical treatments will then be applied to assess if the inputs onto vertical farming can be successfully decontaminated while having positive effects on plant health. The combination of treatments at the different stages of production will be taken forward for verification within a commercial facility.