Our research program is focused on the fate of natural and synthetic organic compounds in agricultural ecosystems. We use state of the art analytical instrumentation combined with a metabolomics approach and bioinformatics to focus on understanding the transport, degradation, and biological effects of small organic molecules to assure human and ecosystem health and sustainability of agricultural industries.
Development of biopesticides
Modern agriculture relies heavily on the use of pesticides to protect crops. In response to society's need for safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides, we have designed the pilot plant for production of biopesticidal extracts from mustard seed from which the oil has been removed as a feedstock for biofuel. Because the success in the form of grower adoption requires consistent and economically viable product, the overall goal of the project is to provide a biopesticides formulation that can be grower-implemented.
In addition to conventional agriculture, biopesticides are vital for organic and high value agricultural and horticultural crops for which the few alternative pest control products available are expensive, ineffective, or harmful to humans or the environment. Organic cropland has increased from 1.3 million acres in 2000 to over 3 million acres in 2014. Organic food revenues in the U.S. have grown to $31 billion a year. Organic vegetable and fruit acres, crops most relevant to the proposed products, have increased 300% during that same time period. California continues to lead in certified organic cropland, with nearly half of its total 405,000 acres used for fruit/vegetable production. These 200,000 acres are the initial target for our mustard meal-based pest control products.
In addition to conventional agriculture, biopesticides are vital for organic and high value agricultural and horticultural crops for which the few alternative pest control products available are expensive, ineffective, or harmful to humans or the environment. Organic cropland has increased from 1.3 million acres in 2000 to over 3 million acres in 2014. Organic food revenues in the U.S. have grown to $31 billion a year. Organic vegetable and fruit acres, crops most relevant to the proposed products, have increased 300% during that same time period. California continues to lead in certified organic cropland, with nearly half of its total 405,000 acres used for fruit/vegetable production. These 200,000 acres are the initial target for our mustard meal-based pest control products.
Identification and distribution of potentially toxic contaminants in soils
The accumulation of anthropogenic contaminants that include heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and polyfluoroalkyl substances in agricultural soils is an increasingly global issue driven by industrialization. A credible knowledge of their distribution and diverse sources in soils is essential for bringing the awareness and developing better remediation strategies. The identification and monitoring of these contaminants in rural and urban environments is critical for provide information to farmers, producers, policymakers and other stakeholders as a safeguard to establish the necessary measurements to avoid the risks involved with these pollutants. We combine laboratory and field studies to look at the fate of these compounds under various environmental conditions.
Profiling of plants for potential biologically active compounds
Plants of the Solanaceae family contain a class of biologically active compounds called glycoalkaloids, that has been shown to exhibit a range of biological properties including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antipyretic, anticholesterol, antifungal, and antibacterial effects. Glycoalkaloids are found in more than 350 plant species and are present in all plant organs with concentrations varying depending on the plant growth stage, environmental conditions, and specific plant species. While a significant effort was made to identify glycoalkaloids in commercial crops, such as tomatoes and potatoes, glycoalkaloid composition is unclear in noncommercial and weedy plants, such as S. sisymbriifolium and S. caripense. Still, these underexploited plants contain many glycoalkaloids that can potentially have desirable biological properties.
We use bioassay-guided fractionation and chemometric analyses to identify potential biologically active compounds and develop detection, extraction, and isolation methods.
We use bioassay-guided fractionation and chemometric analyses to identify potential biologically active compounds and develop detection, extraction, and isolation methods.
Fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on dairy farms and water remediation
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a group of legacy contaminants that have recently received a widespread attention due to their linkage to cancer, liver damage, immune- and neurotoxicity. PFAS has been used for more than 50 years in the production of stain repelling agents, fluoropolymers, pesticides, lubricants, paints, medicines, and fire-fighting foams. Due to their highly fluorinated chemical structure, PFAS do not break down easily and can accumulate over time in the environment and in the human body. While many PFAS has been voluntarily phased out by industry, they are still persistent in the environment and are widely distributed over the northern hemisphere. Currently, more than 95% of the US population has already been exposed to these chemicals. Unfortunately, the knowledge of the fate and transportation of PFAS on dairy farms is still lacking. We address this by investigating the fate and migration of PFASs on dairy farms to better understand the forms and treatment needs of PFAS contamination in Idaho.