Our long-term objective is to continue to support organic agriculture in the U.S. and ensure the livelihood of the system. The objective of the proposed studies is to provide information on the factors that could constitute barriers to the promotion of the organic farming system in the Northeast. The development and implementation of sustainable cost-effective recommendations depend on scientifically-sound understanding of factors that constitute barriers, mechanisms by which they play a role, and management practices that mitigate these barriers. Sound management requires integrated and valid research, education, and extension. The focus of the research is on food- and waterborne pathogens of animal origin such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Cryptosporidium spp. These organisms are frequently incriminated in the threats to the safety of organic production. Specific aims of the proposed studies are:

1. Determine the dynamic of zoonotic food- and waterborne pathogens mentioned above among agricultural ecosystems in New York State (NYS).

2. Identify sources, ecological factors and management practices associated with the likelihood of introduction, and survival of these pathogens through epidemiologic studies.

3. Develop risk assessment models using both deterministic and stochastic approaches to delineate the pathways by which these pathogens could enter the food chain and identify critical control points to mitigate their associated risk.

4. Integrate findings into extension and educational programs for the purpose of closing the knowledge gap in mitigating the risks associated with these pathogens in organic operations and formulate science-based risk mitigation practices and policies.