Listeria monocytogenes in Hydroponic Controlled Environment Agriculture System
Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) presents unique food safety challenges, requiring a clear understanding of pathogen occurrence, survival, and persistence. This study assessed the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in a commercial hydroponic CEA facility using the nutrient film technique (NFT) for pak choi cultivation. Environmental monitoring was conducted at three time points (EM1, EM2, and EM3) over 11 months, with 156 samples collected, focusing primarily on food contact surfaces but also including the crop and water.