Key Takeaways:
- A $300,000 USDA grant has been awarded to improve hydroponic lettuce production, focusing on pest and pathogen control.
- The research, led by Kristen Gibson, aims to address food safety and plant health in controlled environment agriculture.
- The study will evaluate soilless substrates as critical points for pathogen and pest control in hydroponic systems.
- The project includes testing biopesticides and developing best practices for commercial-scale hydroponic lettuce production.
- The research findings will be translated into training materials for hydroponic growers through extension activities.
As controlled environment agriculture and vertical farming continue to expand in modern agriculture, a new $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) aims to improve hydroponic lettuce production. The grant supports research led by Kristen Gibson, director of the Arkansas Center for Food Safety and faculty member of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, focusing on enhancing food safety and plant health within hydroponic systems.
Focus on Pathogen and Pest Control
The grant-funded research addresses the growing needs of the hydroponics industry, particularly in understanding and controlling plant pathogens and pests. According to Gibson, the industry’s rapid growth, highlighted by a USDA report showing a doubling of hydroponic lettuce production from 15.4 million pounds in 2014 to 36.4 million pounds in 2019, underscores the importance of addressing these issues.
The research will primarily evaluate soilless substrates—materials that replace soil in hydroponic systems—as critical points for controlling pests and pathogens. Soilless substrates, such as volcanic rock, coconut coir, sand, perlite, and vermiculite, are vital for physically supporting plants and delivering essential nutrients, oxygen, and water to their roots. The study will assess how these substrates influence the persistence of both plant and human pathogens.
Research Objectives and Approach
The project has three main objectives. The first is to determine the impact of different soilless substrates on the risk of pathogens and pests in hydroponic systems. This involves using controlled greenhouse environments to test various substrates available on the market and identifying those that may contribute to the proliferation of pathogens.
The second objective involves testing biopesticides—non-synthetic pesticides—for their effectiveness in controlling pests and pathogens in different substrates. A key consideration is the scalability of these solutions for commercial operations.
The final objective is to translate the research findings into practical guidance for hydroponic lettuce growers. This will involve developing comprehensive training materials and conducting workshops and training sessions for growers through extension activities.
Collaboration and Future Impact
The research team includes co-principal investigators Rupesh Kariyat, associate professor of insect-plant interactions and chemical ecology, and Ryan Dickson, assistant professor of greenhouse and controlled-environment agriculture. Together, they aim to provide the hydroponics industry with validated strategies for improving food safety and plant health.
