- As National Rice Month kicks off this September, busy consumers can explore their adventurous side with award-winning recipes that are quick-to-fix and perfect for any occasion. The USA Rice Federation is now offering consumers Rev Up Your Rice, a free recipe brochure featuring seven new award-winning rice recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes using six ingredients! For the 9th Annual “Rev Up Your Rice!” recipe contest, USA Rice selected seven winning recipes from more than 1,300 dishes submitted by home cooks. Winners were selected based on taste, ease of preparation, creativity and appearance. A total of $12,000 in cash prizes and Aroma 10-cup Sensor Logic Deluxe Rice Cookers were awarded. Teresa Ralston of New Albany, Ohio won both honors for her Maple-Glazed Chicken with Cranberry Arugula Rice. This brown rice recipe features delicately-sweet, maple-glazed chicken, tart dried cranberries, and is accented with flavors of arugula and Gorgonzola cheese.
- Catalyzing an entire new industry for North Carolina is the long-term task of the newly established Biofuels Center of North Carolina, which moved to reality today following its first board of directors meeting. Funded with a $5 million initial appropriation from the 2007 General Assembly, the non-profit corporation will in coming years implement North Carolina’s Strategic Plan for Biofuels Leadership. The Plan was mandated by the General Assembly in 2006 and presented to its Environmental Review Commission in April of this year. The Plan offers a challenging goal: by 2017, 10 percent of liquid fuels sold in North Carolina will come from biofuels grown and produced within the state. At current usage rates, production of almost 600 million gallons will be required. The Strategic Plan was shaped by a 24-member steering committee and more than 80 public and private participants from across North Carolina.
- The Iowa State University Research Foundation (ISURF) and Monsanto Company have announced an agreement that resolves a patent dispute related to low linolenic soybeans and establishes a relationship that paves the way for future technology development. Under the terms of the agreement Monsanto will receive a commercial license from ISURF for current and future low linolenic acid product lines developed by Iowa State University. The University will receive a research license for the use of Roundup RReady2Yield™ soybeans.
