Poultry Researcher Hopes to Address Food Safety Concerns

Jessica Wesson

Tomi Obe, assistant professor of poultry science at the U of A, is researching the presence of bacteria in poultry production and processing environments.

Tomi Obe, assistant professor of poultry science at the U of A, is researching the presence of bacteria in poultry production and processing environments.

Her research is split between pre-harvest and post-harvest environmental safety. One area in particular Obe's team is evaluating is the ecology of the poultry drinking systems most producers utilize for their flocks.

"We developed a modified method to visualize biofilm and collect biofilm samples for further evaluation," Obe said. "The analysis revealed that the biofilm serves as a community for diverse bacterial populations."

Biofilms are structures formed by microorganisms, she said, often as an adaptation to survive in less ideal conditions.

Her goal is to identify the bacteria living in the water system biofilm and develop a mitigation strategy for the bad bacteria while protecting the good bacteria.

"In follow-up studies, we have developed mitigation plans and are evaluating the effectiveness of these processes to promote poultry gut health and reduce the colonization of pathogenic bacteria," Obe said.

On the other side of harvest, Obe and her team are looking at ways to disinfect poultry wastewater through advanced oxidative processes, with the goal of reusing wastewater to increase sustainability.

"Poultry processing requires the use of several gallons of water per day," Obe said. "Through the process we developed with MicroTracers, Inc., processors can reuse some of the wastewater that is considered clean and free of bacteria after disinfection."

The researchers are also studying the tolerance of Salmonella to different antimicrobials and developing mechanisms to prevent it.

Obe's team is excited about the potential impact of their research on the poultry industry.

"We hope to work with small- and large-scale poultry producers to produce safe and wholesome products for consumers by using research to address some of their concerns," Obe said.

Obe conducts research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture. In addition to her work for the Poultry Science Department, Obe is also part of the Food Science Department through the Arkansas Center for Food Safety.