Location: Water Management and Conservation Research
Project Number: 2020-13000-005-004-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Aug 15, 2019
End Date: Sep 29, 2021
Objective:
Recently, it has become clear that there is concern that wildlife in the Yuma agricultural region could play a role in contamination of leafy greens. A unique opportunity has arisen to collect fecal samples from animals legally killed during the yearly seasonal hunts conducted in the state of Arizona to help understand the role of wildlife on the contamination of fresh produce by bacterial enteric foodborne pathogens in the production areas of the Yuma Valley Arizona region.
Approach:
Through a cooperative agreement USDA-ARS agrees to fund/subcontract the collection and analysis of enteric pathogens in Arizona. A unique opportunity has arisen for the University of Arizona to collect fecal samples in cooperation with Arizona Fish and Game from animals legally culled during the yearly seasonal hunts conducted in the state of Arizona.
