Restricted Research - Award List, Note/Discussion Page
Fiscal Year: 2023
307 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (142195)
Principal Investigator: Vargas Hernandez,Noe
Total Amount of Contract, Award, or Gift (Annual before 2011): $ 263,585
Exceeds $250,000 (Is it flagged?): Yes
Start and End Dates: 9/1/22 - 8/31/24
Restricted Research: YES
Academic Discipline: Mechanical Engineering
Department, Center, School, or Institute: Mechanical Engineering
Title of Contract, Award, or Gift: Freshwater Prawn Production: Solving the National Problem of Prawn Postlarvae (Seed) Availability through Engineering and Automation
Name of Granting or Contracting Agency/Entity:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
CFDA: 10.31
Program Title: Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grants Program
Note:
SAMs 1.1.1--This research project proposes to acquire preliminary and proof of concept data for an automated, inexpensive, and simple to use larvae production system that farmers can use to produce prawn seed. The system is called LIKE (Larvae Intensive Kinetic Environment) and uses a downward-thrusting propeller to create water currents that power much of the system’s automation and technical simplicity. Preliminary research work by the Applicants has confirmed the basic principles on which the LIKE system operates, however the Applicants lacked the resources to gather the data necessary to demonstrate that the prawn seed problem has been resolved. Seed funding is thus being sought to obtain this necessary data. The research data will enable the Applicants to apply for future AFRI grants pertaining to regional hatcheries, adult prawn culture, and the sustainable development of a U.S. prawn industry, all of which have the prerequisite of demonstrating the availability of affordable prawn seed. The broader outcome of this work will be to reduce U.S. dependance on imported shrimp and providing income opportunities to U.S. farmers.
Discussion: No discussion notes