Non Technical Summary
Prickly pear cactus (PPC, Opuntia spp.) is a nutritious perennial that thrives in semi-arid regionsof the U.S. and is treated as an agricultural nuisance where considerable federal and privateresources are spent on cactus eradication programs. This nutrient and phytochemical-richclimate-resilient crop presents a superior substrate in industrial chemical and biofuel bioreactorfermentations. Additionally, PPC thrives on arid and semi-arid marginal land not suitable forother agricultural applications This stakeholder-driven project will investigate a verticallyintegrated sustainable PPC system within five objectives: 1) Assessment of yield, quality of PPCunder varying agricultural practices, stakeholder extension outreach and education, barriers ofimplementation 2) Optimization of fermentation strategies to carboxylic acids that are precursorsto many agrochemicals and biofuels and optimization and standardization of PPC-based foodingredients in collaboration with food industry stakeholders; 3) Evaluate glucose-regulatingproperties of optimized PPC-based foods in human clinical nutrition pilot studies, includingextension outreach and education for underserved consumers; 4) Conduct socio-economicassessment of PPC production and consumption to develop a sustainable and impactful PPCfood systems. 5) Establishment of a sustainable extension outreach and education network, high-impact research, development, and training opportunities to underserved students and 9-12teachers while bringing cutting-edge agricultural, engineering, food science, and nutritionresearch to underserved students to overcome barriers to engage confidently in agricultural orscientific activities and careers. Perform Feed-back-integrated internal and external assessmentof research, extension and education activities. This project is highly relevant to USDA priorityareas: strengthening the bioeconomy and supporting nutrition security. This vertically integratedproject will develop a high-value PPC-based production chain supporting local and regional foodsystems while supporting nutrition in underserved rural communities and mentoring our futureleaders in climate responsive agriculture and food processing. The vast extension and educationnetworks of involved minority-serving institutions will ensure sustainability.

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	0790	1020	25%
501	1499	2000	25%
502	1499	1000	25%
511	1499	2020	25%

Knowledge Area
511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes; 102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 501 - New and Improved Food Processing Technologies; 502 - New and Improved Food Products;

Subject Of Investigation
1499 - Vegetables, general/other; 0790 - Rangelands, other;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 1000 - Biochemistry and biophysics; 2000 - Chemistry; 1020 - Physiology;

Goals / Objectives
This stakeholder-driven project will investigate a verticallyintegrated sustainable PPC system within five objectives: 1) Assessment of yield, quality of PPCunder varying agricultural practices, stakeholder extension outreach and education, barriers ofimplementation 2) Optimization of fermentation strategies to carboxylic acids that are precursorsto many agrochemicals and biofuels and optimization and standardization of PPC-based foodingredients in collaboration with food industry stakeholders; 3) Evaluate glucose-regulatingproperties of optimized PPC-based foods in human clinical nutrition pilot studies, includingextension outreach and education for underserved consumers; 4) Conduct socio-economicassessment of PPC production and consumption to develop a sustainable and impactful PPCfood systems. 5) Establishment of a sustainable extension outreach and education network, high-impact research, development, and training opportunities to underserved students and 9-12teachers while bringing cutting-edge agricultural, engineering, food science, and nutritionresearch to underserved students to overcome barriers to engage confidently in agricultural orscientific activities and careers. Perform Feed-back-integrated internal and external assessmentof research, extension and education activities.

Project Methods
Objective 1: Implementation of crop management strategies for PPC: A) Evaluate fertilization and irrigation management strategies for local varieties of PPC in field plots B) Assess soil health, rhizosphere and endophytic microbiome in their native habitat and experimental plots.Objective 2: Evaluation of post-harvest handling and value-added procedures for chemicals and food ingredients: A) Optimize Fermentation of PPC to carboxylic acids. Use of digestive enzymes to increase yield and continuous fermentation. B) Assess physicochemical properties, optimize quality and safety of fresh and processed PPC.Objective 3:Health Impact of PPC Food Products A) Investigatemetabolic, anti-inflammatory activities of PPC fractions, ingredients in vitro, and microbial metabolism. B)Conduct a randomized placebo-controlled, double-blinded, clinical pilot trial consuming PPC-based beverages for 6-weeks in healthy lean versus obese adults. Outcomes: glucose metabolic impact, interactions with intestinal microbiotaObjective 4: Socio-economic assessment of PPC production and consumption: A) Assess economic feasibility of PPC production via enterprise crop budgets, risk simulation model B) Evaluate consumer preference and willingness to pay for PPC products.Objective 5: Extension outreach and education, Mentorship and Assessment A) Provide Sustainable extension outreach and education program B) Provide Transdisciplinary mentorship for academic trainees to develop future leaders in climate-responsive agriculture and food science. C) Assess and improve effectiveness of extension, training, and mentorship through stakeholder and trainee-driven feedback loops. External project assessments will be conducted by the Office of Educational Innovation and Evaluation at Kansas State University.