Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research
Project Number: 2034-43000-043-005-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2017
End Date: Dec 31, 2021
Objective:
The project has a long-term goal to ensure pest-free security and food safety of almonds in postharvest marketing channels via the development of efficient, economical, and environmentally benign treatments. The short-term goal is to demonstrate efficacy of synthetic silicates (SAS) toward key insect pests of the California almond industry (Phase 1), define operational specifications/parametrics and evaluate functional application scenarios and process implementation(s) that limit deviation from contemporary logistical and marketing operations (Phase II).
Approach:
Utilize a cooperative effort between USDA-ARS, USDA-APHIS, California industry, and foreign counterparts to address pest-related barriers to export. Particular attention will be paid to the expansion and retention of export markets for the California almond industry. Pests will be targeted with postharvest techniques, outlined as objectives. Exploratory studies to define treatment efficacy will be initiated at the laboratory-scale and followed by pilot- and commercial- scale confirmatory testing. Whenever possible, treatment parameters will be tailored to infrastructural and logistical requirements of industry with priority given to those that minimize interruption of conventional methods of production, storage, and distribution.
