20253361045101
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
This proposal responds to the USDA's topic 8.5 - Food Science and Nutrition, subtopic F. Nutrition security, food safety, and quality data tools.
Our proposal addresses integration of next generation, innovative, printed toxic gas sensors developed at Interlink Electronics with data fusion and smart analytics to develop an innovative AI-based post-harvest food quality and safety monitor.
Today the food industry is a $2 trillion activity in the USA alone, and >US$9T worldwide, with an annual growth of ~6-10%!
Food and agriculture are fundamentally important to a thriving society.
Packaged foods alone account for >$1T in business in the US today.
It is estimated that globally around 15% of the world's food is lost after harvesting and before reaching the retail level, including through on-farm activities, storage, and transportation.
The losses are highest for fruits and vegetables at all points in the food supply chain.
The proposed work will provide advanced processing and material measurements [low-cost sensor nodes] that will have enormous impacts by improving the food industry efficacy and safety for widespread societal benefit.
This proposed research will develop a low-cost, extremely low power sensor, alarm and controller for agricultural manufacturing - processing, storage and transport.
The proposed work, if successful, will develop a sensor platform for monitoring and control of processes within the food chain.
These sensors provide a tool to eliminate much of the billions lost each year in the agricultural produce food supply chain.
Starting with these post-harvest quality sensors, the resulting technology platform can be expanded to additional applications improving cost effectiveness and time efficiency in other areas of food and agriculture as well as other manufacturing industries.
Similar large networks of low-cost sensors are needed for process control and leak detection in areas such as the energy sector (hydrocarbons, hydrogen and ammonia).
Our proposal addresses integration of next generation, innovative, printed toxic gas sensors developed at Interlink Electronics with data fusion and smart analytics to develop an innovative AI-based post-harvest food quality and safety monitor.
Today the food industry is a $2 trillion activity in the USA alone, and >US$9T worldwide, with an annual growth of ~6-10%!
Food and agriculture are fundamentally important to a thriving society.
Packaged foods alone account for >$1T in business in the US today.
It is estimated that globally around 15% of the world's food is lost after harvesting and before reaching the retail level, including through on-farm activities, storage, and transportation.
The losses are highest for fruits and vegetables at all points in the food supply chain.
The proposed work will provide advanced processing and material measurements [low-cost sensor nodes] that will have enormous impacts by improving the food industry efficacy and safety for widespread societal benefit.
This proposed research will develop a low-cost, extremely low power sensor, alarm and controller for agricultural manufacturing - processing, storage and transport.
The proposed work, if successful, will develop a sensor platform for monitoring and control of processes within the food chain.
These sensors provide a tool to eliminate much of the billions lost each year in the agricultural produce food supply chain.
Starting with these post-harvest quality sensors, the resulting technology platform can be expanded to additional applications improving cost effectiveness and time efficiency in other areas of food and agriculture as well as other manufacturing industries.
Similar large networks of low-cost sensors are needed for process control and leak detection in areas such as the energy sector (hydrocarbons, hydrogen and ammonia).
Awardee
Funding Goals
NOT APPLICABLE
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Irvine,
California
92618-2870
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Interlink Electronics was awarded
Project Grant 20253361045101
worth $175,000
from the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition in September 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Irvine California United States.
The grant
has a duration of 8 months and
was awarded through assistance program 10.212 Small Business Innovation Research.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 9/18/25
Period of Performance
9/15/25
Start Date
5/14/26
End Date
Funding Split
$175.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$175.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
20253361045101
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
1234HU Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition (IFSN)
Funding Office
1234HU Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition (IFSN)
Awardee UEI
VPRLJCLJ1VA8
Awardee CAGE
02ET9
Performance District
CA-47
Senators
Dianne Feinstein
Alejandro Padilla
Alejandro Padilla
Modified: 9/18/25