Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The USDA U.S. Census of agriculture published figures for "crops produced under protective covers" which includes greenhouses, high tunnels and other type of cover. The three most common crops were tomatoes, herbs and cucumber with a total area of 2141 acres and total sales of $787 million. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2007 greenhouse, nursery and floriculture operations accounted for 2.5% of all U.S. farms but employed 4.9% of hired farm workers and paid 13.3% of farm labor expenses. Total nursery, greenhouse and floriculture sales in 2007 were estimated to be $16.6 billion. Surprisingly, there are few commercially available products available that are approved and effective greenhouse disinfectants and none are universally effective on all surfaces against all unwanted microbes. A 2013 report from Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research (FAR) and Advisory group titled "The Growing U.S. Greenhouse Produce Niche - Capitalizing on High Tech Quality and Consistency" states that the need for more intensive food production due to limited land, water and labor has pushed U.S. greenhouse sales over $3 billion; they are estimated to reach over $4 billion by 2020. Our customers will be greenhouse growers. In particular, growers and researchers, particularly in the warm, humid southeastern states like Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, expressed the desire to develop better means to control the growth of Nostoc and algae to prevent slip-and-fall injuries. In 2017, Florida's agricultural industry suffered 704 cases with worker's compensation benefits paid, with a total cost of $13,014,506 or an average of $18,486 per case. The Nostoc problem in Florida is so serious that the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association has funded an effort through the University of Florida to test commercially available products in an effort to identify the best available products to eliminate this pest organism. TDA's Greenhouse Disinfection technology addresses several of the USDA's strategic planning goals. In accordance with the USDA's First Strategic Goal, the this technol­ogy will assist rural communities to create prosperity so they are self-sustain­ing, repopulating and economically thriving. Specifically, it will enhance rural prosperity by improving food crop production yield by preventing disease; this will promote the growth and development of these businesses, allowing them to save funds for business reinvestment, expansion and/or job creation. In addition, in accordance with USDA's third Strategic Goal, this technology will help America promote agricultural crop production exports as America works to increase food safety. This will further improve crop yields, increasing agricultural exports to countries to enhance food security in developing countries. Changes/Problems:COVID related problems shutdowns slowed our progress. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Greenhouse operations, on average, have fewer acres than outdoor growing but much higher sales per acre. Within enclosed greenhouses, re-occurring plant pathogen diseases and other unwanted microbes can be extremely problematic; infectious microbes and algae readily accumulate on moist surfaces. During this research effort, TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) developed multiple antimicrobial formulations for use in the greenhouse against unwanted organisms. A highly reactive oxidant that is made on site, quickly reacts and then breaks down leaving no residue. These formulations were identified for their ability to be used on both hard non-porous surfaces but also on porous materials such as gravel. Testing in this research effort evaluated formulations for their ability to eliminate algal species that cause common slip and fall injuries in greenhouses and grower operations. While this mechanism worked against many algae species, a few were able to survive. The formulations TDA developed were designed to eliminate microbial and algal pests. As such, they must be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). TDA prepared draft EPA labels for the formulations and prepared a complete submission package. TDA worked with the EPA do designate the formulation as a Biopesticide that would be registered through the Biopesticide and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) of the EPA. A complete registration application was submitted. Unfortunately, the EPA technical screening identified several deficiencies that could not be quickly addressed, forcing TDA to withdraw the application. It is worth pointing out that none of the EPA identified deficiencies were due to efficacy or performance of the formulation we were tiring to register. The most impactful deficiencies to the project included data requirements for human health acute toxicity and subchronic data, non-target organisms and environmental fate, acute dermal toxicity, acute inhalation toxicity, eye irritation, dermal irritation and sensitization. The new active ingredient in our formulation is an FDA approved food grade dye, however the request by the EPA to include this toxicity data, environmental fate and subchronic toxicity data was outside TDA's ability to respond at our current funding level. Overall, our formulations worked well but needed improvement to enhance efficacy against the hardier algal species. Multiple applications improved performance however feedback suggested that longer application times, and increased labor requirements would likely limit consumer interest. TDA has started to reformulate and investigate additives and active ingredients for broader effect against all algae species.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: D.E. Berthold, A. Elazar, F.W. Lefler, S.C. Marble, H.D. Laughinghouse IV Control of algal growth on greenhouse surfaces using commercial algaecides Sci Agric, 78 (1) (2021), Article e20180292 https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-992x-2018-0292

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience:The USDA U.S. Census of agriculture published figures for "crops produced under protective covers" which includes greenhouses, high tunnels and other type of cover. The three most common crops were tomatoes, herbs and cucumber with a total area of 2141 acres and total sales of $787 million. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2007 greenhouse, nursery and floriculture operations accounted for 2.5% of all U.S. farms but employed 4.9% of hired farm workers and paid 13.3% of farm labor expenses. Total nursery, greenhouse and floriculture sales in 2007 were estimated to be $16.6 billion. Surprisingly, there are few commercially available products available that are approved and effective greenhouse disinfectants and none are universally effective on all surfaces against all unwanted microbes. A 2013 report from Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research (FAR) and Advisory group titled "The Growing U.S. Greenhouse Produce Niche - Capitalizing on High Tech Quality and Consistency" states that the need for more intensive food production due to limited land, water and labor has pushed U.S. greenhouse sales over $3 billion; they are estimated to reach over $4 billion by 2020. Our customers will be greenhouse growers. In particular, growers and researchers, particularly in the warm, humid southeastern states like Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, expressed the desire to develop better means to control the growth of Nostoc and algae to prevent slip-and-fall injuries. In 2017, Florida's agricultural industry suffered 704 cases with worker's compensation benefits paid, with a total cost of $13,014,506 or an average of $18,486 per case. The Nostoc problem in Florida is so serious that the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association has funded an effort through the University of Florida to test commercially available products in an effort to identify the best available products to eliminate this pest organism. TDA's Greenhouse Disinfection technology addresses several of the USDA's strategic planning goals. In accordance with the USDA's First Strategic Goal, the this technol­ogy will assist rural communities to create prosperity so they are self-sustain­ing, repopulating and economically thriving. Specifically, it will enhance rural prosperity by improving food crop production yield by preventing disease; this will promote the growth and development of these businesses, allowing them to save funds for business reinvestment, expansion and/or job creation. In addition, in accordance with USDA's third Strategic Goal, this technology will help America promote agricultural crop production exports as America works to increase food safety. This will further improve crop yields, increasing agricultural exports to countries to enhance food security in developing countries. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Not during this reporting period. This will be completed during the next reporting period. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Based on the recent results from the IR-4 Nostoc field test protocol, we have continued our work to further optimize and update the algicide formulation in an effort to improve the efficacy against these gelatinous Nostoc mats. Algal testing, both In-vitro and In-situ field testing will be conducted in the next reporting period.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During this reporting period, TDA continued its effort towards identifying a single formulation that can be used for all greenhouse needs. Our first objective was to optimize the formulation. During our previous reporting period, TDA downselected to two formulations, a more aggressive formulation for algae and Nostoc removal and a second lower strength routine-use disinfectant. Both formulations are based on extremely effective chlorine dioxide generating chemistry which is an oxidizing solution with very efficacious antimicrobial properties. The difference between the two is the concentration of chlorine dioxide that is generated, with the higher concentration being made for the algaecide and Nostoc applications. During this reporting period, testing on algae was significantly slowed due to COVID pandemic related testing restrictions and shut downs. TDA has made further improvements on our formulation and will be moving forward with a mixture that produces a greater chlorine dioxide concentration to achieve the necessary efficacy. In-vitro laboratory testing and In-situ field studies will be conducted with this mixture in the next performance period. The second objective is to register this greenhouse disinfectant product with the EPA. TDA began this effort during the previous reporting periods. Our routine use disinfection formulation was submitted to the EPA for registration through the EPA Biopesticide and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) under PRIA code B600 for a new active ingredient in the formulation. Unfortunately, the EPA requested a completed Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Preventions (OCSPP) data set including human health, environmental fate, and non-target data, which TDA did not immediately have available and thus had to withdraw the application. TDA had requested waivers for this information since the materials used in the formulation, separately, are safe and known. However, used together the agency requested additional safety data. Based on field trials that were conducted at the end of the previous reporting period, TDA will not be moving this formulation forward. Once the new formulation is evaluated per our first objective, we will reengage with the EPA with information on the new formulation. In the third objective TDA will register the product under the National Organic Program so that it can find broader use in the quickly growing organic crop market. This objective is currently pending our ability to register the product with the EPA, per the second objective. We continue to focus on the EPA registration effort which must be completed before proceeding to organic registration. The final objective is to begin extension activities and conduct field trials. During our previous reporting period, TDA and our partners conducted field trials to evaluate our disinfectant formulations. During the 2020 growing season, The IR-4 Project under Cristi Palmer and the Environmental Horticulture program prioritized and funded a testing program (Protocol # 20-014) "Nostoc Efficacy on Hard Surfaces" to determine the efficacy of several herbicides on this pest in environmental horticulture plants in containers. TDA and IR-4 have worked together on a number of other projects and TDA was able to include both of our algicide formulations into this trail to acquire field performance data. Professor Joseph Neal from North Carolina State University was one of the evaluators for this testing program. In August 2020 he reported his findings on the Nostoc gelatinous mats he evaluated. These growths were much larger than the laboratory biofilms previously evaluated. Unfortunately, under the conditions of the field trial, neither TDA solution was effective as a curative measure. Results showed that a measurable effect may be present initially, but that by the end of the trial our formulations were statistically matched to the non-treated control. Based on these results, TDA has begun reevaluating the formulation. Based on that optimization of the formulation, TDA plans to complete additional testing of the new mixture in the next reporting period.

Publications

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The USDA U.S. Census of agriculture published figures for "crops produced under protective covers" which includes greenhouses, high tunnels and other type of cover. The three most common crops were tomatoes, herbs and cucumber with a total area of 2141 acres and total sales of $787 million.According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2007 greenhouse, nursery and floriculture operations accounted for 2.5% of all U.S. farms but employed 4.9% of hired farm workers and paid 13.3% of farm labor expenses. Total nursery, greenhouse and floriculture sales in 2007 were estimated to be $16.6 billion. Surprisingly, there are few commercially available products available that are approved and effective greenhouse disinfectants and none are universally effective on all surfaces against all unwanted microbes. A 2013 report from Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research (FAR) and Advisory group titled "The Growing U.S. Greenhouse Produce Niche - Capitalizing on High Tech Quality and Consistency" states that the need for more intensive food production due to limited land, water and labor has pushed U.S. greenhouse sales over $3 billion; they are estimated to reach over $4 billion by 2020. Our customers will be greenhouse growers. In particular, growers and researchers, particularly in the warm, humid southeastern states like Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, expressed the desire to develop better means to control the growth of Nostoc and algae to prevent slip-and-fall injuries. In 2017, Florida's agricultural industry suffered 704 cases with worker's compensation benefits paid, with a total cost of $13,014,506 or an average of $18,486 per case. The Nostoc problem in Florida is so serious that the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association has funded an effort through the University of Florida to test commercially available products in an effort to identify the best available products to eliminate this pest organism. TDA's Greenhouse Disinfection technology addresses several of the USDA's strategic planning goals. In accordance with the USDA's First Strategic Goal, the this technol­ogy will assist rural communities to create prosperity so they are self-sustain­ing, repopulating and economically thriving. Specifically, it will enhance rural prosperity by improving food crop production yield by preventing disease; this will promote the growth and development of these businesses, allowing them to save funds for business reinvestment, expansion and/or job creation. In addition, in accordance with USDA's third Strategic Goal, this technology will help America promote agricultural crop production exports as America works to increase food safety. This will further improve crop yields, increasing agricultural exports to countries to enhance food security in developing countries. Changes/Problems:COVID related problems have slowed our progress. Staffing restrictions have slowed testingand university collaboratory have gone remote, preventing in lab testing. We are working to try and address these issues. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the first reporting period, TDA worked with the Colorado State University, College of Business, Entrepreneurial Business Development Planning Class and had five students assist TDA with our commercialization efforts as part of their classroom effort. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Based on the recent results from the IR-4 Nostoc field test protocol, we are planning to work to further optimize and update the algicide formulation in an effort to improve the efficacy against these gelatinous Nostoc mats. Testing will include evaluation of different active ingredients, adjuvants and use rates. We will coordinate with our university partners for additional testing.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During this reporting period, TDA continued its effort towards identifying a single formulation that can be used for all greenhouse needs. Our first objective was to optimize the formulation. During our previous reporting period, TDA downselected to two formulations, a more aggressive formulation for algae and Nostoc removal and a second lower strength routine-use disinfectant. Both formulations are based on extremely effective chlorine dioxide generating chemistry which is an oxidizing solution with very efficacious antimicrobial properties. The difference between the two is the concentration of chlorine dioxide that is generated, with the higher concentration being made for the algaecide and Nostoc applications. Testing of these formulations by multiple university collaborators demonstrated that both formulations were effective at addressing algae pests in the laboratory. The second objective to register this greenhouse disinfectant product with the EPA. TDA began this effort during the previous reporting period. Our routine use disinfection formulation was submitted to the EPA for registration through the EPA Biopesticide and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) under PRIA code B600 for a new active ingredient in the formulation. Unfortunately, the EPA requested a completed Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Preventions (OCSPP) data set including human health, environmental fate, and non-target data, which TDA did not immediately have available and thus had to withdraw the application. TDA had requested waivers for this information since the materials used in the formulation, separately, are safe and known. However, used together the agency requested additional safety data. In the third objective TDA will register the product under the National Organic Program so that it can find broader use in the quickly growing organic crop market. This objective is currently pending our ability to register the product with the EPA, per the second objective. We continue to focus on the EPA registration effort which must be completed before proceeding to organic registration. The final objective is to begin extension activities and conduct field trials. During this reporting period, TDA and our partners conducted field trials to evaluate our disinfectant formulations. During the 2020 growing season, The IR-4 Project under Cristi Palmer and the Environmental Horticulture program prioritized and funded a testing program (Protocol # 20-014) "Nostoc Efficacy on Hard Surfaces" to determine the efficacy of several herbicides on this pest in environmental horticulture plants in containers. TDA and IR-4 have worked together on a number of other projects and TDA was able to include both of our algicide formulations into this trail to acquire field performance data. Professor Joseph Neal from North Carolina State University was one of the evaluators for this testing program. In August 2020 he reported his findings on the Nostoc gelatinous mats he evaluated. These growths were much larger than the laboratory biofilms previously evaluated. Unfortunately, under the conditions of the field trial, neither TDA solution was effective as a curative measure. Results showed that a measurable effect may be present initially, but that by the end of the trial our formulations were statistically matched to the non-treated control.

Publications

Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The USDA U.S. Census of agriculture published figures for "crops produced under protective covers" which includes greenhouses, high tunnels and other type of cover. The three most common crops were tomatoes, herbs and cucumber with a total area of 2141 acres and total sales of $787 million.According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2007 greenhouse, nursery and floriculture operations accounted for 2.5% of all U.S. farms but employed 4.9% of hired farm workers and paid 13.3% of farm labor expenses. Total nursery, greenhouse and floriculture sales in 2007 were estimated to be $16.6 billion. Surprisingly, there are few commercially available products available that are approved and effective greenhouse disinfectants and none are universally effective on all surfaces against all unwanted microbes. A 2013 report from Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research (FAR) and Advisory group titled "The Growing U.S. Greenhouse Produce Niche - Capitalizing on High Tech Quality and Consistency" states that the need for more intensive food production due to limited land, water and labor has pushed U.S. greenhouse sales over $3 billion; they are estimated to reach over $4 billion by 2020. Our customers will be greenhouse growers. In particular, growers and researchers, particularly in the warm, humid southeastern states like Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, expressed the desire to develop better means to control the growth of Nostoc and algae to prevent slip-and-fall injuries. In 2017, Florida's agricultural industry suffered 704 cases with worker's compensation benefits paid, with a total cost of $13,014,506 or an average of $18,486 per case. The Nostoc problem in Florida is so serious that the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association has funded an effort through the University of Florida to test commercially available products in an effort to identify the best available products to eliminate this pest organism. TDA's Greenhouse Disinfection technology addresses several of the USDA's strategic planning goals. In accordance with the USDA's First Strategic Goal, the this technol­ogy will assist rural communities to create prosperity so they are self-sustain­ing, repopulating and economically thriving. Specifically, it will enhance rural prosperity by improving food crop production yield by preventing disease; this will promote the growth and development of these businesses, allowing them to save funds for business reinvestment, expansion and/or job creation. In addition, in accordance with USDA's third Strategic Goal, this technology will help America promote agricultural crop production exports as America works to increase food safety. This will further improve crop yields, increasing agricultural exports to countries to enhance food security in developing countries. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?TDA has worked with the Colorado State University, College of Business, Entrepreneurial Business Development Planning Class and had five students assist TDA with our commercialization efforts as part of their classroom effort. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Not during this reporting period. This will be completed during the next reporting period. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Testing by our University partners is underway and will be completed in the next reporting period. Registration activities will also be completed during the next reporting period. Extension activities will be completed during the next reporting period.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During this Phase II effort, we have worked towards our goal of identifying a single formulation technology that can be used for all greenhouse needs. Our first objective e to optimize the formulation has been performed and is now being evaluated by our university partners. The second objective to register this greenhouse disinfectant product with the EPA has been started. The third objective will be performed in the second year of the effort which is product registration under the National Organic Program so that it can find broader use in the quickly growing organic crop market. The final objective will also be completed in the second year which is to finalize the product so that we can begin extension activities and start to commercialize the greenhouse disinfectant product.

Publications