Feature University Spotlight
Growing Smarter Indoors
MSU Researchers Developing Technology That Targets Harmful Bacteria
By Skip Anderson, MSU News Service
Montana State researchers aim to autonomously eliminate plant-killing bacteria from hydroponic farming systems Three researchers from Montana State University( MSU) recently received a nearly $ 600,000 grant from the U. S. Department of Agriculture( USDA) to develop a system that can autonomously detect and remove crop-killing microbes from hydroponic farms before they cause damage to plants. Hydroponic farming is a method of growing plants without soil by supplying nutrients through water.
“ This work is important to maintain food safety for our growing world,” said Stephan Warnat, the project’ s principal investigator and an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in MSU’ s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. Coproject directors are the engineering college’ s interim Dean Christine Foreman, who is also a professor of chemical and biological engineering, and Stephanie McCalla, an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering.
Certain crops, especially lettuces, tomatoes, strawberries and herbs, grow extremely well indoors hydroponically. Other benefits of hydroponic farming, compared to traditional soil-based agriculture, include higher water efficiency, faster plant growth, greater crop yield per square foot, year-round production and control over the growing conditions, including nutrient levels and light exposure. Plus, hydroponic farms can thrive in environments inhospitable to traditional agriculture methods, including deserts and infertile land.
“ A hydroponic system allows you to grow fresh
produce all year round, which can be beneficial in harsh environments with cold winters,” Warnat said.
However, the challenges facing hydroponic farmers are substantial, including high startup costs and the fact that staple commodities such as wheat, corn and soybeans are considered far more economical to produce through traditional agriculture. The potential for toxic water-borne pathogens is another downside of hydroponic farming.
“ The goal with this project is to keep pathogens out of the hydroponic system while allowing beneficial microbes to develop naturally,” Warnat said.“ The challenge is that when you have a circulating water system with a microbial community, potentially some pathogens are developing and soon the entire harvest is dead.”
The team, Warnat said, plans to use electrochemical sensors to screen for harmful bacteria before they have
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