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To help prevent such failure, researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, a Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory, is working with several agricultural universities and agencies to search for ways to apply Labs-developed technology to agricultural and food-safety issues.

The agricultural infrastructure is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States, says Darryl Drayer, who heads up Sandias agricultural security and food safety initiative. We think its important to take technologies that have already been developed at taxpayer expense and apply them to this industry.

Drayer is talking about technologies like:

• Decontamination formulation that rapidly neutralizes chemicals and biological warfare agents.
• Rapid Syndrome Validation Project (RSVP) that addresses the identification of naturally occurring or terrorist-caused diseases.
• Rapid modeling and computing capabilities.
• Microsensors that can sense chemicals in water or food.
• Water security and sustainability.

Regina Hunter, one of the researchers working with Drayer on the effort, says that while there are probably other Sandia-developed technologies that can be applied to making sure food supplies are safe, its best to start with those that have the most likelihood of being used immediately.

Everyone eats, Hunter says. We depend on the safe production and processing of agriculture products. Thats why its important to move ahead as rapidly as possible on this initiative.

Decontamination foam

Sandia researcher Cecelia Williams is already exploring the possibility with Kansas State University of using the decontamination formulation known for its ability to kill anthrax to eradicate E. coli, salmonella, and spoilage organisms that may exist on food processing equipment. When used as a foam, t
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Contact: Chris Burroughs
coburro@sandia.gov
505-844-0948
DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
16-Jan-2002