Progress 11/15/23 to 11/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Participants of all status were targeted including graduate students, post docs, assistant professors, associate professors, professors, research scientists, research directors, editors/journalists. The Conference was well-attended with 151 participants. Scientists from academia represented 78% of the participants while attendees from government accounts for 9% and those from industry totaled 13%. The meeting also attracted a strong mix of young investigators and senior scientists. Students and post-dcos accounted for 38% of all attendees. Approximately 44% of the participants at the 2024 meeting were women. The associated Seminra was also well-attended with 38 participants. Scientists from acedmia represented 82% of the participants. Students and post docs combined for 80% of all attendees and the remainder served as key mentors during the program and networking opportunities. Approximately 53% of the participants were women at the seminar. In terms of disciplinary focus, our target audience included individuals of diverse professional status with interest in applications of nanotechnology in materials science, big data, food safety, environmental toxicology, agriculture, and diagnostics. Changes/Problems:There were no major changes/problems encounttered and the meetings took place as scheduled. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Speakers, discussion leaders, poster presenters and attendees simultaneously contributed to and benefited from the collective skills and experiences shared throughout the conference and seminar. In addition to the scientific program, there was ample time for discussion and networking during the poster sessions, meals and free afternoons. To encourage cohort building among our community of emerging scholars (students and postdocs), a corresponding Gordon Research Seminar was held the weekend prior to the GRC, open only to students and postdocs, and coordinated and managed by two emerging scholars. The success of our conference in this regard is validated by our survey results, in which 55 of participants agreed that "there were ample opportunities for networking between junior and senior scientists, creating a welcoming environment". Through this grant we were able to provide partial funding to every U.S. student and postdoc participant of our GRS, as well as registration support based on participation in a poster competition and awards for best speakers (emerging investigators 10-min talk during GRC program right before lunch). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The final program has been posted on the GRC website. Because the speakers presented largely unpublished data, we expect most of the 22 speakers to further disseminate knowledge through additional presentations at other conferences, as well as in publications of peer-reviewed journal articles. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We expect to continue the success of our GRC community in 2026, with a GRC chaired by Dr. Timothy Duncan (USFDA), and Dr. Jason White (CAES), and the GRS chaired by Marina Youngblood and Sophia Tomatz.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Nano-enabled systems offer new potential technologies toward improving the safety, quality, and sustainability of our agriculture and food systems. This fourth GRC on Nanotechnology for Agriculture and Food Systems focused on impactful research and applications for sustainable food production. A community of scientists from around the globe, representing academia, industry, government, and NGOs, assembled to present and discuss cutting-edge, unpublished research with other experts in the field. In appreciation of the multi-disciplinary nature of this growing field, the program includes a comprehensive vision of critical and emerging research areas. This conference encompassed nanotechnology research advances across the field of agricultural science, inclusive of food science, plants / soil, animal science, human health and disease, and address safe deployment of nanotechnology in these areas with a view to public perception and policy. The fourth nanoscale science and engineering for agriculture and food systems GRC was a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among sci3ntistis of all career stages. The conference was five days long and held in a remote location (Southern New Hampshire University) to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. Twenty-two presentations were given, with a strong focus on unpublished data, engaging speakers and participants in active discussion on the future of our field, and important discussion remarks from the discussion leaders (nine). A very well-attended Power Hour focused on "Effective Mentoring in Research was presented by two speakers. The conference had designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allowed for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field. A Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) was held the weekend prior to the GRC. The Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems GRS provided a unique forum for graduate and post-doctoral researchers to present their work, discuss new methods, cutting edge ideas, and unpublished data, as well as build collaborative relationships with their peers, building a cohort among our community of emerging scholars. Experienced mentors and trainee moderators facilitated active participation in scientific discussion to allow all attendees to be engaged participants rather than spectators. The meeting included three seminar sessions to cover interrelated categories of topics that pertain to the role of nanomaterials on overcoming current challenges associated with sustainable food production and agricultural practices, food safety and quality monitoring, and food security. We welcomed research from a broad aspect of scientific topics related to: 1) nanomaterial design and synthesis rules for sustainable agricultural applications; 2) advances in nanomaterial applications in food systems; 3) advances in nanomaterial applications (e.g., sensors, carriers, remediation, etc.) in agriculture, plant, and animal sciences. These sessions included in-depth discussions on the topics presented and how such contributions can lead to a sustainable future of nanoparticles in agriculture and food systems. An additional fourth session was held in the form of a panel as a career development resource for the participants of the seminar. The format of this meeting included three to four speakers per session with allocated time for discussion (Q&A), poster sessions to accommoadate all participants, and many opportunities to network during social events. Participants had an opportunity to provide feedback at the end of the conference and seminar. The feedback collected from the meeting was extremely positive. Evaluations included numerous positive remarks regarding the network opportunities, the variety of topics, and the diversity of the attendees. The GRS evaluations also included comments about the ability to network at the poster sessions and the cutting-edge science presented. Some comments are included below: "Different fields of expertise were represented and great discussion arouse from various interactions." "Excellent diversity of topics, participants, and interactions. It was wonderful to learn about the areas that are not my own and to be able to understand the state-of-the-art in those areas. The organization was great and the chairs did an excellent job all around." "Loved the conference, ample networking opportunities, diversity of the talks and that speakers had the time to go in depth on their topic and plenty of time for discussion." "This was really an excellently organized and planned conference. The speakers and attendees were diverse by geography and expertise and the variety of topics was exciting." The USDA awarded funds registration support for 38 participants to attend the GRC including early careers, women, graduate students and postdocs. The funds also assisted 28 graduate students, postdocs and similar levels attend the GRS meeting.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: GRC Program Link: https://www.grc.org/nanoscale-science-and-engineering-for-agriculture-and-food-systems-conference/2024/
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: GRS Program Link: https://www.grc.org/nanoscale-science-and-engineering-for-agriculture-and-food-systems-grs-conference/2024/
• Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2025 Citation: Kah, M. & Gomes, C., 2025. Increasing the societal impacts of nanotechnology applications in food and agricultural systems. Journal of Nanoparticle Research.

Progress 11/15/23 to 11/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The audience included academic, industry, and publishing professionals and trainees from around the world. In terms of disciplinary focus, our target audience included individuals of diverse professional status with interest in applications of advanced nanomaterials, computing and data driven development for ag and food applications, sensors, nanobiotechnology, regulatory aspects of nanotechnology, food safety and quality, nanotechnology for human health, environmental toxicology, agriculture, and non-transgenic nanotechnology. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In addition to the scientific program, there will be ample time for discussion and networking during the poster sessions, meals and free afternoons. A Power Hour is part of the conference schedule the topic selected will be on "Effective Mentoring in Research" to be held by two invited speakers. To encourage cohort building among our community of emerging scholars (students and postdocs), a corresponding Gordon Research Seminar will be held the weekend prior to the GRC, open only to students and postdocs, and coordinated and managed by two emerging scholars. Through this grant we will be able to provide partial funding to every student and postdoc participant of our GRC, in addition to support their GRS participation based on participation in a poster competition and also awards for best speakers (10 min-talk during GRC program right before lunch for emerging scholars). The two graduate students (Beza Tuga, PhD student in Chemistry,andElisabet Moreno, PhD student in Food Science) organizing the GRS are being trained in leadership, conference planning, contacting sponsors,budget acquisition and budget management, and event organization and planning. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The final program is posted to the website however their is no other publications due to GRC's No Publication Policy. Because the speakers presented largely unpublished data and similarly for the attendees presenting posters, we expect most of the 20 speakers and +50 poster presenters to further disseminate knowledge through additional presentations at other conferences, as well as in publication of peer-reviewed journal articles and invention disclosures. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period, the final report will be submitted at the end dates of the award (November 14, 2024). All audience information, accomplishments, summaries and details will be highlighted in that final report. We also expect to have selected the vice chairs for both GRC and GRS for the 2028 conference and seminar, respectively. We expect to continue the success of our GRC community in 2026.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The goals did not change from the major goals outlined in the proposal. The speakers and discussion leaders for the conference have been confirmed and the program is posted on the GRC website. Similarly, the program for the Gordon Research Seminar is finalized. We have confirmed 125 registrations and we expect more applications as the date of the conference approaches.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: GRC Program: https://www.grc.org/nanoscale-science-and-engineering-for-agriculture-and-food-systems-conference/2024/ GRS Program: https://www.grc.org/nanoscale-science-and-engineering-for-agriculture-and-food-systems-grs-conference/2024/