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

垂直农业代表了农业的下一次革命，它有望有效地生产各种各样的作物，而不受一年中的时间或地理位置的影响。垂直农业中的封闭式生长条件缓解了气候变化中社区的粮食安全问题和可持续农业。虽然垂直农业的集约化性质带来了经济优势，但它也可能带来食品安全问题，如单核细胞增生李斯特菌，沙门氏菌和大肠杆菌等病原体。杆菌在垂直农业操作中，被认为是封闭的环境提供了对病原体的保护，但现实是，种子和生长基质等农业投入物可能含有病原体，最终可能导致食源性疾病的爆发。这一点已经在与水培作物有关的几次引人注目的疫情和召回中得到证明。以下项目将提供基于羟基自由基处理的干预措施，可在生长过程的不同阶段应用，在减少病原体、刺激植物生长、增加作物的营养和保质期方面带来积极效益。本研究将评估两种基于羟基自由基的处理方法，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抗菌的，其可以潜在地模拟植物内的防御系统，以防止疾病并在收获后处理期间增加产品的稳健性。此外，该过程快速（<30秒），不会像传统的消毒剂（如氯）那样留下残留物。 基线研究将把人类病原体引入种子、生长基质和生长中的作物，以确定它们的命运。由于生菜和草莓的经济意义，本研究将重点放在生菜和草莓上。然后将采用羟基自由基处理来评估垂直农业的投入是否可以成功地净化，同时对植物健康产生积极影响。将在商业设施内对不同生产阶段的处理组合进行验证。

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.