MAES News
October 1, 2008
- MSU Receives $5.4 Million Specialty Crop Grant
- Forest Biomass Development Coordinator Named
- Water Scientist Receives International Award
- MAES Researcher Appointed to Committee Addressing Global Poverty with Ag Development
- MSU Farms Donate Fresh Produce to Local Food Banks
- MSU Graduate Students Receive Awards for Outstanding Research Efforts
Michigan State University has received a four-year, $5.4 million grant to improve the quality, yield, drought tolerance and disease resistance of potatoes and tomatoes, two of the world's most important crops and significant contributors to Michigan's $67 billion agricultural economy.
The MSU grant is the largest of the nine grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) National Research Initiative Plant Genome Program -- it represented more than half of the $9.4 million award total.
Led by two MAES scientists -- Dave Douches, crop and soil sciences researcher, and Robin Buell, plant biology researcher -- the project aims to use emerging DNA sequence data with basic research data to improve potato and tomato varieties. Other researchers, educators and Extension specialists from MSU, Ohio State University, Cornell University, the University of California-Davis and Oregon State University are also working on the project.
"Potatoes and tomatoes are important vegetable crops that are challenged by disease and pests," Douches said. "Enhancing our ability to tackle these problems from a genetic angle will improve the quality of produce for consumers and processors and provide potato and tomato growers with varieties that are more pest- and disease-resistant."
"Pests and diseases continue to be a serious problem in Michigan potato production," said Ben Kudwa, executive director of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission. "Michigan potato growers continue to incur significant financial losses as a result of pests such as the Colorado potato beetle and diseases such as potato late blight and potato scab when intervention measures to control them are unsuccessful. This level of funding, combined with the expertise and leadership of Dave Douches and the rest of the project team, will help ensure that the potato and specialty crop industries remain strong and viable in Michigan and beyond."
The MSU program will be administered under the Cooperative Agriculture Project (CAP), a USDA-CSREES program that funds multiyear, multi-institutional collaborative projects. Past CAP programs have focused on rice, wheat, barley and conifers.
"This is the first non-grain/forestry project funded under the CAP program and the first project that's working on two species," Buell said. "The potato is the most important vegetable worldwide, and the Solanaceae family -- which includes potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants -- is the most important vegetable family, period, so this represents a very important and significant investment by the USDA."
The project team also will develop a course for graduate students, offer workshops and practical training for plant breeders, and create online networking resources for plant breeders, seed industry professionals, Extension specialists and practitioners.
"It is extremely gratifying to see this innovative and important research be acknowledged and supported by the USDA, and it is a testament to the caliber of researchers we have here at MSU," said MAES director Steve Pueppke. "Research funding at this level is essential to improving agricultural efficiency and sustainability and addressing critical and emerging national priorities and needs."
Forest Biomass Development Coordinator Named
With 19.3 million acres of forestland, Michigan is primed to be a national leader in producing renewable fuels from cellulose -- trees, stems and stalks that aren't food products.
In recognition of the growing importance of trees as raw materials for bioproducts, Raymond Miller, who oversees forestry research at Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) properties in the Upper Peninsula and serves as director of the U.P. Tree Improvement Center, added MAES forest biomass development coordinator to his duties Sept. 1.
In this new role, Miller will coordinate many of the forest-based biofuel relationships between Michigan State University and other entities, including Michigan Technological University, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the Swedish Forest Agency. He also will work with Michigan State University Extension to facilitate education and outreach on the bioeconomy.
"I'm now the university's point person for forest biomass production," Miller said. "Besides working with faculty members in the Forestry Department that are already studying cellulosic biomass, I'll be learning more about what's going on outside forestry so I can connect faculty members from across departments."
In 2007, MSU announced a biofuel partnership with Michigan Tech to create new collaborative research, outreach and economic development programs centered on fuels and energy made from forest biomass. The programs are overseen by the eight-member Renewable Fuels Working Group, made up of four scientists from each university. Miller and David Shonnard, Michigan Tech professor of chemical engineering, are co-chairpersons of the group.
With his colleagues on the Renewable Fuels Working Group, Miller hosted a biofuels summit in Escanaba in February attended by 50 representatives of businesses from all aspects of the forest-based bioeconomy and state and local government agencies. The goal of the summit was to identify key questions the universities should address in three priority areas: feedstock production, feedstock supply chains, and feedstock conversion systems and integration. The summit also furthered the MSU-Sweden relationship by featuring presentations from four Swedish bioenergy researchers, who explained Sweden's transition to renewable fuels. Sweden has 69 million acres of forestland and an enormous forest products industry, so wood is the raw material of choice for Sweden's bioeconomy. Miller and other researchers believe that Michigan can use Sweden as a model when developing the state's forest-based bioeconomy.
"I'm very pleased that Ray has added this new role to his responsibilities," said Steve Pueppke, MAES director, who also heads the MSU Office of Biobased Technologies. "This formalizes a lot of the work he has been doing and will solidify our relationships with businesses and state agencies. Our research and development emphasis is on making cellulosic biofuels, and it makes sense for Ray to help lead this effort."
Miller's research focuses on forest establishment and management systems and how various systems affect growth and yield. He came to MSU as a research assistant in 1978 and served as associate director of the Michigan Cooperative Tree Improvement Program from 1981 to 1988, after which he was named manager of the U.P. Tree Improvement Center in Escanaba. The U.P. Tree Improvement Center is one of 14 MAES field research stations located around the state.
Miller received his bachelor's degree in forest resource management in 1975 and his master's degree in silvics in 1978 from the State University of New York, Syracuse. He received his doctorate in forestry from MSU in 1984.
Water Scientist Receives International Award
MAES-affiliated researcher Joan
B. Rose, who holds the Homer Nowlin chair of water research, was recognized for her work in water sciences with the first Hei-jin Woo Award from the International Water Association (IWA).
The award is dedicated to the memory of Hei-jin Woo, a leading Korean engineer who studied water science. The award recognizes the achievements of women in the water sciences and was presented in September during the opening ceremony of the World Water Congress in Vienna.
"Hei-jin Woo was a scientist who died young in Korea. The award represents that untapped resource of young women in the sciences," Rose said. "To be the first award recipient is humbling and very honoring. We want to continue to create the best pathway for young women to enter into science."
"The Hei-jin Woo Award recognizes women's contributions to the advancement of the management of water," IWA president David Garman said. "Joan Rose is a very worthy first recipient, having established herself as a global leader in the health assessment of water supplies using both traditional techniques and advanced molecular science. Women are often underrepresented in our profession, and this award brings to the forefront female colleagues who lead their fields."
Rose studies water pollution microbiology, working to understand the relationship between microbial water quality and human health. Rose has advanced the field by examining key parasites and viruses as waterborne pathogens and has supported the advancement of a waterborne pathogen genomics program.
"Joan Rose epitomizes the spirit of the Hei-jin Woo Award, and it is fitting that she was chosen as its first recipient," said Jeffrey Armstrong, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "Her work covers a broad spectrum of water resource issues, from microbial safety to watershed protection to the ecological health of the Great Lakes and the entire world's water system. She's served in myriad capacities at the local, state, national and international levels as a preeminent researcher and tireless advocate for water quality and safety for the health of humans, animals and the environment."
MAES Researcher Appointed to Committee Addressing Global Poverty with Ag Development
Tom
Reardon, MAES agricultural economist and internationally recognized expert on global agrifood markets, was named to serve on an experts committee convened by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (CCGA) to provide critical input on the current food crisis and poverty alleviation strategies in developing countries.
Reardon is one of 10 national experts tapped to advise a group of a dozen U.S. business, civic and policy leaders on the issues and perspectives they should advance in this arena with the incoming U.S. administration and Congress.
"The current world food crisis has refocused global attention on the persistent problem of hunger and poverty alleviation in the developing world and to the current global food supply imbalance," Reardon said. "This committee will provide critical thinking and guidance on the options for new international and U.S. approaches, policies and programs to strategically and effectively address these issues."
The experts committee is central to a broad CCGA initiative, the Global Agricultural Development Project, which seeks to address global poverty through agricultural development, with an emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The project's overall objective is to secure a major U.S. commitment to the elimination of world hunger and world poverty in the years ahead.
The experts committee, which began its deliberations in September, will draft a white paper that provides recommendations and long-term strategic themes around U.S. foreign assistance for agricultural development. The draft will then be used by the leaders' group to produce a final white paper for distribution to key members of the incoming administration's transition team and congressional members in December. A final report will be disseminated in April 2009.
"I am very pleased that Tom has been asked to serve on this high-level committee," said MAES director Steve Pueppke. "This appointment is a testament to the breadth and depth of Tom's expertise and standing in the global agrifood industry field and also speaks to the caliber of researchers we have at MSU."
MSU Farms Donate Fresh Produce to Local Food Banks
Today's economy is leaving many families facing tough choices.
That's where a partnership between MSU and the Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB) comes in. The partnership, in its 25th year, is all about providing those families, individuals and agencies with fresh produce from MSU farms.
The GLFB provides volunteers through its Garden Project Gleaning Program to harvest surplus produce from the on-campus farms and distributes it to low-income families, individuals and agencies that serve those in need.
The food is distributed to food pantries, human services organizations and residents of low-income housing. The thorough field harvest completed by the volunteers benefits the farm, but the main priority is benefiting the undernourished people in the greater Lansing area.
"We see this as a wonderful outgrowth of the research programs that take place at the campus farms," said Doug Buhler, MAES associate director. "It is gratifying to see MSU farm staff members partner with the local community in this way. Providing quality food and supporting the nutritional health and well-being of needy members of our community is really in the spirit of an institution like MSU."
So far this year, the on-campus farms have donated nearly 69,000 pounds of fresh vegetables and fruits, including sweet corn, cherries, pears, tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, dried beans, onions, zucchini and cabbage. The GLFB estimates that the donated food is worth $74,677.55.
"Fresh fruits and vegetables are some of the foods most lacking in diets of low-income individuals," said Anne Rauscher, director of the Garden Project. "The partnership between MSU and the gleaners is a wonderful way to ensure that fresh, local foods get to people who need them."
Last year, the on-campus farms and gleaners teamed up to give more than 220,000 pounds of fresh foods to the GLFB.
This year, the numbers are still being tabulated -- harvest of the on-campus farms is about halfway done, said Gary Zehr, who manages the plant pathology farm.
The donated crops were harvested from crop and soil sciences farms, horticulture farms, the muck farm and the plant pathology farm. As of Sept. 17, the crop and soil sciences farms had donated 3,840 pounds; the horticulture farms, 15,083 pounds; the muck farm, 4,815 pounds; and the plant pathology farm, 45,221 pounds.
All four on-campus farms are part of the MAES on-campus field station, one of 15 field stations throughout Michigan. The on-campus research farms provide land and facilities for research conducted by MSU faculty members in the departments of Forestry, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Animal Science, Crop and Soil Sciences and Horticulture, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
"Much of our research is conducted and paid for by industry, so we can't really sell the crops -- that would compete with the people we're trying to help," said Ray Hammerschmidt, chairperson of the Department of Plant Pathology. "The gleaning project provides good quality produce to people who have a real need for the nutrients available in fresh produce. The crops go to a much better use than making compost."
By the Numbers:
- 25 -- Number of years MSU and the Greater Lansing Food Bank have been teaming up to get fresh food into the hands of people who need it.
- 247,000 -- Pounds of food donated by on-campus MSU farms in 2007.
- 68,959 -- Pounds of food donated so far by on-campus MSU farms in 2008.
- $74,677.55 -- Dollar value of food donated so far in 2008.
- 3.4 million -- Pounds of fresh produce donated in 25 years (through 2007)
- 150,000 -- Pounds (or more) donated each year since 1991.
MSU Graduate Students Receive Awards for Outstanding Research Efforts
Graduate students studying with MAES scientists in plant biology, microbiology and molecular genetics, and agricultural, food and resource economics were honored at professional association meetings this summer.
Colleen Doherty and Michael Grillo were two of only five graduate students to receive the ASPB Pioneer Hi-Bred International Student Award at this year's American Society of Plant Biologists annual conference in June in Mérida, Mexico. The award recognizes and encourages innovative research or leadership in an area of plant biology related to important crops.
Doherty, plant biology doctoral student in the lab of MAES scientist Mike Thomashow, director of the MSU-Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, was honored for her dissertation research on how plants respond to cold stress. Grillo, plant biology student in the lab of MAES plant biologist Tao Sang, was recognized for his research and collaboration efforts with scientists at the Central Rice Research Institute in India to develop field sites to examine how individual traits in wild rice species have contributed to local adaptations to specific environments.
Two MSU graduate students working with MAES agricultural economist Scott Swinton received awards for their theses from the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) at its annual meeting in July in Orlando, Fla.
Wei Zhang was awarded "Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation: Honorable Mention" for her 2007 doctoral dissertation, "Optimal Pest Management in the Presence of Natural Pest Control Services." Only two doctoral dissertations received national awards.
Daniel Mooney was awarded "Outstanding M.S. Thesis: Honorable Mention" for his 2007 master's thesis, "The Economic Impact of Disease-resistant Bean Breeding Research in Northern Ecuador." Mooney's was one of only four master's theses to receive this national award.
