Development of Rapid In-Field Spectral Imaging Methods to Detect Hazardous Chemicals and Microorganisms for Ensuring Safety of Agricultural Products

<p>The overall objectives are to join the resources and expertise of ARS and Experiment and Research Institute (ERI), National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS), to conduct research on application of spectral imaging techniques (e.g., hyperspectral/multispectral) for safety-based screening of agricultural products and to develop rapid screening methods for detecting the presence of pathogenic micro-organisms and hazardous chemical substances in agricultural products. Cooperative research will include evaluation of the use of portable optical sensing devices for food safety assessment for regulatory purposes as related to various agricultural products and food processing environments.</p>