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June 1, 2007

• MAES Nutritional Immunology Researcher Elected to National Academy of Sciences
• MAES Scientist Edits New Journal on Biomaterials and Bioenergy
• First Statewide Status Report Released on Michigan Organic Agriculture
• Fuel from Fiber: Pretreatment Can Put Cornstalks, Trees in the Gas Tank
• MSU and MDNR Announce Cooperative Wildlife Habitat Management Web Site
• Fruits and Vegetables Go Under Cover
• 2007 Ag Expo Set for July 17-19 at MSU
• MSU Offers Weekly Blueberry Growing Season Updates
• Study: Economic Activity in State Related to MSU's Operations Tops $3 Billion
• New Faculty Members
• Food Label Design, Requirements Focus of Conference

MAES News Archive

 

MAES Nutritional Immunology Researcher Elected to National Academy of Sciences

Pamela Fraker, MAES biochemistry, molecular biology, and food science and human nutrition researcher, has been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. Election to the academy is considered one of the highest honors that can be accorded a U.S. scientist or engineer.

Fraker is among 72 new members and 18 foreign associates from 12 countries who were elected to the academy in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Fraker is the first woman from the Michigan State University faculty to be named to the academy.

"It is gratifying and well-deserved that Pamela Fraker and her stellar research is being recognized and honored," said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. "Her pioneering work in nutritional immunology and the contributions she has made both to the science community and for the good of mankind are nothing short of inspiring. Dr. Fraker exemplifies Michigan State's commitment to excellence in both science and application, and this honor is a much welcome distinction."

In her lab, Fraker studies the impact of zinc and other nutrients on immune defense systems. Zinc is involved in the activity of approximately 100 enzymes and many other cell functions key to an optimally functioning immune system. Zinc deficiency accompanies many chronic diseases, including AIDS, Crohn's disease, pancreatitis, renal disease and sickle cell anemia. In developing countries, illness and malnutrition can devastate the immune system. Fraker's work is being used to help improve patient health and stabilize immune defense.

Her work has been supported by 30 years of National Institutes of Health funding, most recently by a $1.7 million grant.

"Pam Fraker is one of the foremost nutritional immunology scientists in the world," said Ian Gray, vice president for research and graduate studies. "In addition to her research on zinc's effect on the immune system, she created a pioneering nutritional immunology program at MSU that involves scientists from several disciplines. She is very deserving of this elite recognition."

Fraker received her doctorate from the University of Illinois.

The election was held during the 144th annual meeting of the academy. Those elected now bring the total number of active members to 2,025 and MSU's academy membership to eight.

The other MSU faculty members who are active members of the academy are:

The National Academy of Sciences is a private organization of scientists and engineers dedicated to the advancement of science and its use for the general welfare. It was established in 1863 by a congressional act of incorporation, signed by Abraham Lincoln, which calls on the academy to act as an official adviser to the federal government, upon request, in any matter of science or technology.

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MAES Scientist Edits New Journal on Biomaterials and Bioenergy

As the world looks to decrease its dependence on dwindling supplies of petroleum, interest in research on making products, energy and fuels from renewable materials -- plant biomass and municipal and livestock waste -- has skyrocketed.

A new journal, Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, offers scientists a publication to showcase and review novel bioeconomy research, demonstrations and education. Amar Mohanty, MSU associate professor of packaging, helped develop the journal and serves as its first editor-in-chief.

"We expect that the social, economic and political demands for biobased chemicals, material and energy will radically transform the chemical, plastic and biofuel industries," he said. "The principles of sustainability, ecoefficiency, industrial ecology, and green chemistry and engineering will govern these changes. To maintain the expansion of knowledge and understanding in this field, results must be communicated widely. This journal will serve as a platform to integrate the growing science and engineering of biobased materials, chemical and bioenergy."

The first issue of the Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy presents fundamental research on biomaterials and bioenergy, including education for sustainability and the societal impact of converting an entire village to biomass energy sources. The overall idea of the new journal centers on sharing the knowledge required to grow the emerging bioeconomy.

The journal is published by American Scientific Publishers. Subscription information and selected content are available online.

"We look forward to sharing many inventions, discoveries and innovations in biomaterials and bioenergy research that will broadly propel the global drive toward reducing our dependence on petroleum and developing a sustainable, biobased economy," Mohanty said.

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First Statewide Status Report Released on Michigan Organic Agriculture

The survey results are in -- organic farming is serious business in Michigan.

"This is the first statewide, comprehensive status report on organic agriculture that presents data about Michigan's organic agriculture community," said Jim Bingen, MAES researcher and the report's lead author. "The results are very illuminating and provide us with the critical information we need to support the growth and diversification of Michigan organic production and marketing moving forward."

"Organic Agriculture in Michigan: 2006 Survey Report" is part of a collaborative project by MSU and the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) funded by a special research grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to identify opportunities for more Michigan fruit and vegetable growers to participate in the emerging market for organic produce.

Carol Osborne, MOFFA project coordinator, and Emily Reardon, academic specialist in the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies at MSU, collaborated with Bingen on the report.

"With 45,500 certified organic acres and projected growth trends, Michigan is poised to play an even greater role in organic production, particularly related to organic fruits and vegetables," Bingen said. "Michigan already leads the upper Midwest in the number of certified organic acres devoted to fruits and vegetables, and we are actively exploring ways to expand this important market."

According to a recent USDA survey, the number of certified organic acres in the United States grew by 63 percent from 1997 to 2005; Michigan certified organic farmland increased by 166 percent over the same period. And between 1997 and 2002, Michigan's total certified organic bean acreage more than doubled and acres of organic grains more than tripled.

A national comparison of certified organic operations shows that Michigan is among the top 20 states in total organic acreage and 12th in the number of certified organic farms. Michigan is first in the number of organic spelt acres, second in organic beans and eighth in organic fruit. Eighty percent of Michigan's certified organic cropland produces beans and grains; 8 percent, hay/silage; and 5 percent, fruits and vegetables. The remaining 7 percent is used for cover crops and other uses.

"The survey information will allow us to gain a better understanding of our organic community -- the types of crops grown, farm sizes and locations, production, marketing and policy issues," Osborne said. "It will also help us build a better food system for Michigan that connects local organic farmers with Michigan citizens looking for quality food that is good for us and the earth."

Based on survey feedback, report recommendations include conducting a biennial census of organic agriculture to assess the state's organic farm progress, investigating barriers to certification for Michigan farmers who follow organic practices, researching soil fertility management strategies specific to organic farms, advocating for policies and programs to support the organic community, and promoting the economic and environmental benefits of organic farming for Michigan agriculture.

A copy of the 34-page report is available online.

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Fuel from Fiber: Pretreatment Can Put Cornstalks, Trees in the Gas Tank

"Put a tree in your tank." Fuel companies aren't touting that slogan. At least, not yet.

But thanks to research done in part by Bruce Dale, MAES chemical engineering and materials scientist, making fuels from poplar trees and cornstalks is becoming more efficient and cost-effective.

Dale is internationally known for his 30 years of research on making ethanol from plant biomass -- the stems, leaves, stalks and trunks of plants and trees usually discarded as waste after a crop is harvested. He's developed a patented pretreatment process for biomass, ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX), which makes the breakdown of cellulose -- the most difficult part of making ethanol from plant biomass -- more efficient.

Dale and other members of the Biomass Refining Consortium for Applied Fundamentals and Innovation discussed AFEX and other biomass pretreatment technologies during a presentation May 8 at BIO2007, the annual international convention of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. The consortium is a group of scientists studying biomass refining.

"In time, we can expect to completely replace gasoline and diesel with cellulose-derived biofuels that are cheaper, better for the environment and much better for national security than petroleum-derived fuels," Dale said.

This research is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Resources Canada and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station at MSU.

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MSU and MDNR Announce Cooperative Wildlife Habitat Management Web Site

Looking for the habitat of a particular wildlife species in Michigan?

Now you can find it on the new Gap Analysis Program (GAP) Web site, which is dedicated to providing information on wildlife habitats to Michigan citizens. The comprehensive site, the result of a 3-year collaborative project between MSU and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), features downloadable habitat maps for wildlife species that inhabit Michigan, as well as land cover and land stewardship maps.

Brian Maurer, MAES fisheries and wildlife scientist, who helped direct the project, said the primary purpose of the Michigan GAP is to provide a broad geographic assessment on the status of available habitat for all vertebrate species in the state, not just those that are threatened with extinction or naturally rare.

"These maps can be used to provide land managers, planners, scientists and policy-makers with the information they need to make better informed decisions," Maurer said. "Those species and communities not adequately represented in the existing network of conservation lands constitute conservation gaps."

"Michigan GAP is the first and only effort to map the ranges and habitats of Michigan's terrestrial vertebrates in a geographic information system (GIS) format that allows for easy evaluations of conservation status," said Michael Donovan, habitat research specialist for the MDNR Wildlife Division and another project co-director.

The efforts and costs associated with managing for wildlife habitat are significant. Gap analysis assumes that the cost of maintaining species as parts of self-sustaining ecosystems is less than the cost of intensive management programs directed at saving individual species.

The Michigan GAP Web site provides easy access to geographic information including statewide land cover, land stewardship and vertebrate species distributions -- all of which can be used to develop large-area indicators of biodiversity. This information is now available to many institutions, private and public, that are involved with land management and land use planning.

Donovan said that continuing research efforts are assessing the accuracy of Michigan GAP models and refining those models for use with a variety of vegetation data.

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Fruits and Vegetables Go Under Cover

Michigan fruit and vegetable growers may be able to expand into new markets, thanks to research being conducted by MAES scientists who are developing guidelines and recommendations for growing a variety of horticultural crops under cover in greenhouse-like structures called high tunnels.

High tunnels are used in many parts of the world to increase crop quality and yield. The relatively low-cost, non-heated plastic-covered structures originated in the United Kingdom for use in growing berry crops and could potentially be used here to grow other horticultural crops.

The tunnels protect crops from frost, rain, wind, hail, insects and disease, and they can help lengthen the growing season by allowing harvesting to start earlier in the year or extend later into the fall. One disadvantage is that the plastic has to be removed during the winter because the frames can not withstand more than a few inches of snow.

"High tunnels eliminate exposing plants to the elements, which helps to improve crop quality. Secondly, the tunnels trap heat so that the growing season can be extended," said Eric Hanson, MAES horticulture scientist and one of the project's lead researchers.

"This research is the first of its kind to be conducted on high tunnels in Michigan," he added. "It came about because more and more growers around the world have been shifting to this technology, and research needed to be done here under Michigan climate and environmental conditions to see how they perform."

A small group of Michigan producers have started using tunnels to grow vegetables, cherries and berries, but a number of questions still exist.

Hanson said that one of the first questions that needs to be answered is whether producers can justify investing in the tunnel structures.

"Growers need to know up front if they can make money by using tunnels. Though the structures are relatively inexpensive over time, the initial $25,000 to $40,000 per acre investment is significant," he said. "We also need to study and develop sustainable production practices for growing crops under cover in Michigan and be able to advise growers about what they need to do differently than if they were growing crops in a field or orchard."

Two high tunnels were constructed at two outlying MAES research stations in 2005 under a cost-sharing agreement with Haygrove Tunnels, the leading producer of high tunnels in the United Kingdom. Sweet cherry high tunnel studies are being conducted at the Clarksville Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES). The second, larger high tunnel was built at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (SWMREC) near Benton Harbor, and vegetable, cut flower, berry and sweet cherry crops are being studied there.

Since the first full growing season in 2006, MSU researchers already have discovered that fall-bearing raspberries respond favorably to high tunnels. Hanson said that in addition to increased yield, researchers found improvement in fruit quality because of reduced incidence of disease.

Tunnel structures also have shown potential as a consistent and reliable alternative for organic producers and growers who don't want to rely on chemicals for managing insects and diseases.

The tunnels seem to protect against Japanese beetle, a serious pest in and around the CHES and the SWMREC. Though researchers observed that beetles fed heavily on cherries and raspberries grown outside the tunnels, little damage was observed on the tunnel-grown plants because the insects avoided entering the tunnels.

For the 2007 growing season, researchers will plant more varieties of blackberries to see how they perform and assess the cherry fruit harvested from trees planted 2 years ago at SWMREC. Work will also continue on establishing best production practices for fresh-market tomatoes.

"Findings from this project will ultimately provide growers with a comprehensive assessment of how crops perform under high tunnel structures in Michigan and help growers make informed management decisions," Hanson said.

Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs), Michigan's plant agriculture initiative at MSU, funded this project.

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2007 Ag Expo Set for July 17-19 at MSU

Ag Expo, Michigan's largest agricultural equipment exposition, will return to the MSU campus July 17-19.

Visitors to the 28th annual Ag Expo can explore demonstrations and exhibits featuring equipment and other products and services of interest to farmers and agribusinesses. They can also learn about research, teaching and Extension programs conducted through the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR).

In addition to the CANR tent and a toy tractor sales tent, this year's event will also feature new activities including demonstrations of feed processing and mixing equipment. Farmers can compare various manufacturers' products before making a purchase.

The expo also will feature two days of tractor pulling contests, an annual favorite. The garden tractor pull takes place Tuesday afternoon (July 17), and the antique tractor pull Wednesday afternoon (July 18). The FFA state tractor driving competition will take place Tuesday morning.

"Ag Expo is a great event with a proud history. We are in our 28th year on the MSU campus and, as always, are working hard to offer an event that gives visitors the chance to see the latest services, products and tools that are available to farmers and homeowners," said Kirk Heinze, Ag Expo director. "Most importantly, we have the chance to showcase some of the many research, teaching and Extension programs that MSU provides for Michigan communities, agriculture and natural resources."

More than 15,600 visitors attended Ag Expo last year, an increase of more than 20 percent over 2005. Last year, 260 commercial vendors took part.

Ag Expo features commercial farm equipment from throughout the Midwest and several Canadian provinces on the 35-acre main exhibition site and the 40-acre field demonstration area, as well as educational exhibits from several MSU colleges and departments.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 17 and 18, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 19. Admission to the grounds and parking at Farm Lane and Mt. Hope Road are free. For more information about Ag Expo, call 800-366-7055 or visit the Ag Expo Web site.

Ag Expo is sponsored by the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

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MSU Offers Weekly Blueberry Growing Season Updates

Michigan blueberry growers can stay abreast of pest-related growing season challenges with a new weekly scouting report newsletter from the MSU Blueberry Team.

Focused on integrated pest management topics, the newsletter provides growers with information on insect and disease activities and articles about various blueberry pests, as well as weather and degree-day information, crop growth stages, pesticide labels, frost protection and pollination updates.

The newsletter, posted every Tuesday throughout the growing season, is based on insect and disease scouting on two farms in Van Buren County and two farms in Ottawa County.

It is available via free e-mail subscription. To subscribe, e-mail masonk@msu.edu. It can also be found online.

"Our goal is to increase Michigan blueberry growers' awareness of new integrated pest management approaches that can be used on farms to minimize pest outbreaks and techniques for scouting pests," said MAES entomologist Rufus Isaacs. "We hope to save growers money and improve quality, and, overall, we hope to improve communication between MSU research and Extension programs and the Michigan blueberry industry."

The newsletter is funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Strategic Agriculture Initiative and is produced by MSU Extension blueberry specialists and educators and MAES researchers.

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Study: Economic Activity in State Related to MSU's Operations Tops $3 Billion

Whether it's by providing jobs for thousands of people, attracting funding for research that can change and even save lives, or simply enhancing contributions to the state's coffers because its alumni are earning high-end salaries, Michigan State University's economic impact on the state of Michigan is enormous.

According to a newly released 85-page study by Anderson Economic Group, economic activity in Michigan related to MSU's activities was more than $3 billion in 2005. The study is available online.

Anderson Economic Group, following a rigorous and conservative methodology, found that the state's residents are more than $2 billion richer annually as a result of the operational expenditures of MSU, additional earnings as a result of increased human capital and graduate medical education payments to hospitals because of MSU's medical schools.

"As a world-class research university, Michigan State University is an economic engine for the state as it generates research, innovation, new ventures and intellectual capital," said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. "This report also captures many of the ways in which our day-to-day operations and the activities related to them provide a huge economic benefit to the state."

Simon noted that the university selected the Anderson Economic Group to conduct the study expressly because of its propensity to be conservative and rigorously fact-based in its assessments of economic impact.

"As an academic institution, we have very high standards for analysis and for the ways in which data are used," Simon said. "Anderson Economic Group is the gold standard in this line of work. In terms of the range of economic impact you can attribute to an institution, they tend to err on the low side. They don't inflate numbers. So we know the figures in this report are rock solid and that, in fact, MSU is likely to have an even greater positive economic impact in real terms."

Other ways in which MSU generates significant economic benefits include:

The report noted that there were additional economic activities associated with MSU that could not be quantified. These included some MSUE and MAES activities, technology transfers, research and knowledge creation and cultural, arts and entertainment events, other than those at the Wharton Center.

"This study proves the tremendous benefits of hosting world-class universities such as MSU," said Patrick Anderson, principal and CEO of Anderson Economic Group. "Even given a conservative approach and the fact that we did not try to estimate impact for those areas that could not be quantified, the billion dollar net benefit of MSU's operational expenditures is impressive.

"The importance of 'knowledge jobs' in the new economy will magnify the benefits of MSU in the future," Anderson said. "As a state, we dedicate significant resources to keeping million-dollar companies in the state, so it's important to keep enterprises such as our research universities with their billion-dollar impacts healthy and thriving."

Jim Barrett, president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, noted that Michigan State's impact is truly statewide.

"Michigan State is extremely active in outreach, and its activities extend into every county in Michigan," Barrett said. "As a research university, it not only creates economic impact through its activities, it also makes Michigan more attractive to investors and businesses looking for a place to locate."

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New Faculty Members

The MAES is pleased to welcome four faculty members with new MAES appointments.

Jeff Andresen, associate professor of meteorology/climatology and state climatologist, became affiliated with the MAES in October 2006. Andresen's research focuses on the influence of weather and climate on agriculture, especially within Michigan and the Great Lakes region. His research focuses on climatological trends and potential impacts, water use for agricultural irrigation, the impacts of potential future climate changes, weather and risk management in agricultural production systems, the influence of land use changes on regional climate, winter hardiness and mortality of crops and insects, and measuring and using weather data to determine the risk of plant disease.

Before coming to MSU, Andresen was an agricultural meteorologist with the National Weather Service and was on the USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board in Washington, D.C. He currently serves as director of the Michigan Climatological Resources Program, co-director of Enviro-weather and administrator of the Michigan Automated Weather Network. He received his doctorate and master's degree in agricultural meteorology/climatology from Purdue University in 1987 and 1983, respectively, and his bachelor's degree in meteorology from Northern Illinois University in 1981.

Satish Joshi, associate professor of agricultural economics, became affiliated with the MAES in October 2006. His research interests include corporate environmental strategy, and economic and environmental evaluation of emerging biofuel and biobased material industries. Joshi teaches courses in corporate environmental management and ecological economics and is also the director of the undergraduate program in environmental economics and policy.

Before coming to MSU in 2000, Joshi served as a postdoctoral research fellow and a Heinz School of Public Policy and Management teaching assistant at Carnegie Mellon University from 1998 to 1999 and 1992 to 1996, respectively. He received his doctorate in public policy analysis and management from Carnegie Mellon University in 1998 and his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Karnataka Regional Engineering College in Surathkal, India, in 1981.

Scott Loveridge, professor of agricultural economics and state leader of the Community Vitality Program, became affiliated with the MAES in October 2006. Loveridge's research focuses on the economics of regional development, and his current projects include research on improving the vitality of Michigan communities.

Before coming to MSU in 2000, Loveridge served on the faculties of the University of Minnesota and West Virginia University. He received his doctorate and master's degrees in agricultural economics from MSU in 1988 and 1985, respectively, and his bachelor's degree in biology from Kalamazoo College in 1980.

Thomas Reardon, professor of agricultural economics, became affiliated with the MAES in October 2006. He is considered a leading global expert on supermarkets and development in developing countries. His research focuses on the rapid spread of supermarkets in Asia, Latin America and central/eastern Europe and the effect this has on agrifood supply chains, particularly horticultural and dairy products. He is co-director of a joint project between MSU and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) studying markets in Asia. Most of his current work is in India, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Mexico and Central America.

Before coming to MSU in 1992, Reardon was a research fellow at the IFPRI from 1986 to 1991 and a Rockefeller Foundation postdoctoral fellow in Africa from 1984 to 1986. He received his doctorate in agricultural and resource economics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1984, his master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University in 1979, and his bachelor's degree in political science and French from Claremont Men's College in 1976.

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Food Label Design, Requirements Focus of Conference

To help food industry personnel and regulatory officials ensure that food labels follow state and federal laws, the Institute for Food Laws and Regulations at Michigan State University is presenting a food labeling workshop July 19-20 at the Henry Center for Executive Development in Lansing.

Those involved with label development or review will find the course of particular interest. Trade association staff members, food consultants and attorneys will also find this program valuable.

"Labeling regulations are a specialized, complex area of law," said Neal Fortin, institute director. "But an understanding of these regulations is essential for food businesses and to protect consumer health and safety."

Topics to be covered at the workshop include the latest information on food allergen labeling, requirements for principal display and information panels, ingredient statements, nutritional labeling, nutrient content claims and health messages, as well as a discussion of practical issues in food labeling regulation. The workshop also will feature a review of label problems.

A limited number of scholarships are available. More information about the workshop is available online or by calling 517-355-8295.

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Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station
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