嘿嘿视频

$2 Million Grant Funds Organic Farming Study of Manure and Food Safety

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Pile of cattle manure in front of field and barn
Raw cattle manure can provide organic farmers with an alternative to chemical fertilizers, but the timing of application is important for minimizing risks of food-borne illnesses. (Michele Jay-Russell/Western Center for Food Safety)

Quick Summary

  • Some soil amendment microbes can cause food-borne illnesses
  • Study to determine how much time is needed between manure application and harvest
  • Findings will guide development of national guidelines

Organic farmers who use animal-based manure to improve soil quality and nourish crops are receiving help through a nearly $2 million grant for a food-safety research project, led by the 嘿嘿视频 School of Veterinary Medicine and involving a multistate network of collaborators.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic Research and Extension Initiative grant (of exactly $1,999,848) will support studies needed to develop national guidelines and best practices for using raw manure while improving soil health and minimizing food-safety risks in organic crops such as leafy greens, tomatoes and root vegetables.

Raw and minimally processed animal manure has been shown to be a rich source of nutrients for improving soil fertility and quality, offering organic farmers an alternative to chemical fertilizers.  But animal-based soil amendments may also contain naturally occurring microbes that can cause food-borne illnesses in people.

鈥淭his study is designed to determine how much time should pass between the applications of untreated animal manure in the field and crop harvest, in order to minimize any risks that these microbes might pose to consumer health,鈥 said Alda Pires, a veterinarian and UC Cooperative Extension Specialist in the 嘿嘿视频 School of Veterinary Medicine.

Pires is leading the project with Michele Jay-Russell a veterinary research microbiologist and manager at the Western Center for Food Safety at 嘿嘿视频.

鈥淭his research aligns closely with our center鈥檚 goal to help farmers achieve compliance with the prevention-oriented activities outlined in FDA鈥檚 produce safety regulations,鈥 said Jay-Russell.

In addition to 嘿嘿视频, project collaborators include the University of Minnesota, University of Maine, USDA Agricultural Research Service鈥檚 Beltsville Agricultural Center, USDA Economic Research Service鈥檚 Resource and Rural Economics division, Cornell University, and The Organic Center. (The USDA grant award is number 2016-51300-25724.)

Media Resources

Alda Pires, School of Veterinary Medicine, 530-754-9855, apires@ucdavis.edu

Michele Jay-Russell, Western Center for Food Safety, 530-219-4628, mjay@ucdavis.edu

Pat Bailey, News and Media Relations, 530-219-9640, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu

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Secondary Categories

Human & Animal Health

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