University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa received a $2 million award from National Science Foundation to lead a multi-institutional effort for development of artificial intelligence-enabled tools to help detect environmental threats to food production systems before they become major problems.
The effort comes as public health officials continue to investigate foodborne illness outbreaks tied to cyclospora, underscoring the need for faster, more proactive approaches to identifying potential threats in the food supply.
This marks only the second time University of Hawaiʻi has received an National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR, Track II Focused EPSCoR Col<a href="https://myappsplus.com/six-labor-day-smartphone-deals-that-are-worth-the-money/” title=”Six Labor Day Smartphone Deals That Are Worth the Money”>laboration award.
A total of $4 million was awarded for the project led by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in partnership with University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
The 4-year project began Sept. 1 and will combine artificial intelligence, environmental sampling, advanced genetic analysis and high-resolution chemical analysis to identify and monitor potential risks to aquaculture, livestock and agricultural systems.
Led by principal investigator Tao Yan, director of Water Resources Research Center and professor in Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, the project brings together researchers from throughout the University of Hawaiʻi system, including Water Resources Research Center, College of Engineering, University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.
“Food production systems are increasingly challenged by microbial pathogens and chemical contaminants that can threaten animal health, food safety and economic sustainability,” said Yan in a university release. “By combining environmental surveillance with [artificial intelligence], we aim to develop early-warning technologies that can identify emerging risks before they reach critical levels.”
He added that this collaboration will strengthen Hawaiʻi’s and Nebraska’s research capacity while preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers to address complex challenges in food security.
Researchers will develop new artificial intelligence models capable of interpreting complex biological and chemical data, including information from metagenomics — the study of genetic material collected from environmental samples — and high-resolution mass spectrometry, which identifies chemical compounds.
The research team will test the technologies in aquaculture and beef cattle production systems, with the goal of improving food safety, protecting animal health and increasing the resilience of food production systems.
Outreach efforts will engage industry partners, regulators and communities to encourage adoption of new technologies, while the collaboration will support science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and workforce development by providing research opportunities for junior factulty members, graduate and undergrad students as well as K-12 participants.
