Student Poster Contest Winners from #CUTC16

Kelly Marshall

cutc-16-pavel-somavatPavel Samat is a Ph.D student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At the recent Corn Utilization and Technology Conference Samat was contestant in the Gary Lamie student poster contest for his work with purple corn. His research focuses on using this purple corn to extract a healthy, economic alternative to synthetic dyes.

“Food and beverages currently are colored using synthetic dyes and they have detrimental health effects on people. And some of the synthetic dyes have already been banned because they are carcinogens. Red dye 40, which is predominatly used in the U.S. to make foods and beverages red is coming under a scanner because it makes children hyper-sensitive.”

Instead the purple corn can provide not just a bright color, but is also very nutritious. And while it isn’t quite ready yet, a team is also working to find ways to adapt this South American corn to the midwest.

You can listen to Chuck’s interview here: Interview with Pavel Samat

cutc-16-tabyta-SabchukTabyta Sabchuck was a winner in the Mycotoxin poster contest. She is a student at the University of Nebraska and her project was funded by the Nebraska Corn Board.

She has currently complete the first part of a multi-step process.  It involved researching temperature and its effect on processing corn during ethanol production.  You can hear her interview here: Interview with Tabyta Sabchuck

Check out pictures from the conference: 2016 CUTC Photo Album;

CUTC

BIVI Expands R&D Facilities in Iowa

Jamie Johansen

BIVI Health Management CenterBoehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) recently opened a new research and development facility at Iowa State University Research Park in Ames, Iowa and ZimmComm’s own Jamie Johansen had the opportunity to tour the facility prior to the official kick off of the 2016 World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. The Health Management Center (HMC) is also located on the same campus and was founded to enable deeper investigation into debilitating swine diseases such as Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and Porcine circovirus Type 2 (PCV2).

During the tour Jamie had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Marc Eichmeyer who is the director of international project management – vaccines for BIVI. He has been with them for nearly 15 years with a focus on swine research, but in his current role he also works with vaccines for companion animals and cattle.

BIVI’s is well known for it’s mission: provide value through innovation, and prevention is better than treatment. Eichmeyer said that this new facility was born out of innovation and one key area of focus for the company is creating new vaccines and products that really meet market needs and are not a copy of what’s already available.

The new 52,000 square foot R&D facility in Ames has 75 scientists on staff with the ability to grow to 100. There are researchers from around the world including Kenya, India, Germany and the Philippines. The scientists are 60 percent female and 40 percent male. Eichmeyer said the philosophy of the building encompasses openness and light and scientists from senior to junior and across disciplines all work together in the open lab fostering collaboration. He also said the Ames location is ideal because not only is Iowa State nearby, but the USDA and other organizations have offices and labs in the community and they have already been able to collaborate with these entities on their research.

To learn more about BIVI’s swine research history as well as their new Health and Management Center, listen to Jamie’s interview with Dr. Marc Eichmeyer: Interview with Dr. Marc Eichmeyer, BIVI

2016 BIVI HMC Media Tour Photo Album.

wpx-bivi-tag

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Research, Swine, Technology

Support for #RFS from @FarmBureau

Kelly Marshall

rfs-worksRandy Caviness was only one of many to testify before the EPA that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) must continue to operate was it was defined almost a decade ago.

“EPA’s decision not to follow the intent of Congress in the 2007 RFS is highly disappointing to all of agriculture,” said Caviness, who also serves as a member of AFBF Issues Advisory Committee on Energy. “This decision strikes a blow to conventional ethanol production and dampens the prospects for the further development of advanced biofuels.”

Caviness testified on behalf of the Iowa Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau Federation and his testimony should have weight. He has farmed for 28 years without energy-intensive tilling and leads initiatives to install wind turbines in Adair and Cass counties. Reducing RFS hurts agriculture and rural communities at a time when the down economy already has many producers in a pinch, he told the panel.

“Our nation’s farmers can grow more bushels of corn and soybeans on fewer acres to feed and fuel the world,” Caviness said. “But if these reduced volumes are finalized, this decision will stall growth and progress in renewable fuels as well as the broader agricultural economy.”

Listen to Caviness’ testimony here: AFBF testimony at EPA hearing

EPA Hearing Photo Album.

Coverage of EPA RFS Hearing made possible by Coverage of EPA RFS Hearing made possible by Renewable Fuels Association
AFBF, Ag Groups, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol

Biocognito’s Danielson Discusses Emerging Biomaterials

Joanna Schroeder

All things “bio” are becoming a hot topic as companies continue to move toward more sustainable business practices and products. Renewable feedstocks, such as corn, are a headliner in this movement as we learn from Biocognito’s Nathan Danielson during the Corn Utilization Technology Conference (#CUTC16). The company is a small consulting firm that counsels businesses working to bring new technologies to the biomaterials space. He said that many of his clients are located in California because there is great interest in new materials and discovering new ways to use corn. He added that there are a lot of private investors that are excited about this area as well.

cutc-16-danielsonDanielson was very involved in the planning of this year’s CUTC conference and served as chair for two sessions. His panel focused on near-term and long-term technologies that have a significant potential to increase corn utilization from lab to commercialization. “One of the things I challenged the speakers to think about was how do you find a home for the next one billion bushels of corn,” said Danielson.

He is also chair of the poster committee with more than 40 posters on display. Danielson focuses on the student side of the presentations although there are also posters from companies. He said each year he walks away saying he can’t believe they just keep getting better and better. He has been chairing this committee for four years and has found that, “What I love about this session is that it show’s how bright the future is for this industry. When you get this many people with this talent and this dedication getting into the industry it makes me really happy to be a part of it.”

To learn more listen to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with Nathan Danielson here: Interview with Danielson, Biocognito

Check out pictures from the conference: 2016 CUTC Photo Album.

Agribusiness, Audio, CUTC

#Corn and #Soy Groups Back #RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

Leaders for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and American Soybean Association (ASA) were among the more than 120 who testified at an EPA field hearing in Kansas City in support of statutory volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

NCGA president Chip Bowling testifies at EPA hearing

NCGA president Chip Bowling testifies at EPA hearing

NCGA president Chip Bowling of Maryland urged EPA to follow the law and finalize the 2017 conventional renewable fuel renewable volume obligation (RVO) at the 15-billion-gallon statutory level. “The EPA and this Administration made a pledge to the American people to become energy independent by developing American-based energy sources such as corn ethanol,” said Bowling. “Farmers responded by growing enough corn for all of our needs. Businesses responded by investing in production infrastructure across rural America. As a result of these government promises and private efforts, the U.S. is able to sustain a prosperous renewable fuels industry. Now it’s up to EPA to deliver on its promises.”

Listen to Bowling’s testimony here: NCGA president EPA hearing testimony

NCGA Chairman Martin Barbre of Illinois also testified, noting that the RFS was a successful policy when EPA first began proposing changes in 2014. “The RFS was doing exactly what it was intended to do: driving the adoption of domestic renewable alternatives to petroleum, supporting jobs across the country, ensuring the United States remains a global leader in developing renewable energy sources and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions here at home. The EPA’s proposal threatens these outcomes,” said Barbre.

Listen to Barbre’s testimony here: NCGA chairman EPA hearing testimony

Former ASA chairman and Iowa soybean farmer Ray Gaesser called on EPA to increase the proposed volumes for biomass-based diesel to 2.5 billion gallons. “We think EPA should enthusiastically support more aggressive, but easily achievable, volume targets for biodiesel,” said Gaesser. “We see no reason why EPA should not, at a minimum, support biomass-based diesel volumes of 2.5 billion gallons for 2018.”

Listen to Gaesser’s testimony here: ASA chairman EPA hearing testimony

Check out the EPA Hearing Photo Album.

Coverage of EPA RFS Hearing made possible by Coverage of EPA RFS Hearing made possible by Renewable Fuels Association
ASA, Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Corn, Ethanol, NCGA

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Talia Goes

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Social Media Award for @Bayer

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 514One company that really “gets” social media in my opinion is Bayer. I’m not alone. The evidence comes in the form of some great recognition for their efforts. In this week’s program I talk with Bayer’s Jeff Donald about their use of social media on the ag side and how they measure success.

pr-social-media-awardsThe “Bayer gets scientifically social” campaign has been recognized by PR News with the Best Twitter Community Engagement Award, announced at PR News’ 2016 Social Media Awards luncheon in Miami.

The award was specifically for social media efforts directed out of the Bayer U.S. corporate offices in New Jersey, but is indicative of the company’s overall growth in use of social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The Bayer US Twitter account has achieved 98% growth since January 2015.

Additionally, Bayer successfully launched several social media campaigns and partnerships, including a “Thank You” campaign celebrating science mentors, participation at the BlogHer conference, and a partnership with the Luke Bryan Farm Tour. These campaigns produced impressive results. Bayer achieved engagement rates 17% above average at BlogHer and a 96% positive sentiment rating during the Luke Bryan Farm Tour, boosting Bayer’s reputation in the U.S.

How about on the ag side though? Well, Bayer has completed some very successful campaigns that make great use of the power of social media. Just some of them include RealYield, FeedABee, Thankful4Ag and Agvocate. Some are still on-going.

Learn more about Bayer’s social media experience in the ag sector in this week’s ZimmCast: ZimmCast with Jeff Donald, Bayer CropScience

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

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Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Social Media, Social Networking, ZimmCast

#CUTC16– Sustainability Should be Expected

Kelly Marshall

cutc-16-rob-meyersRob Meyers recently attended a panel discussion on sustainability at the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference on behalf of his company, PepsiCo.  His message: sustainability should be expected.

Across the supply chain, he says, we’ve reached the point that once happened with food safety.  Everyone came together, everyone worked to make food safer.  Once again collaboration will be an important part of taking sustainability to the next level, and that level shouldn’t leave consumers confused about how their products are grown or raised.

“It is the responsibility of consumer package goods companies like ourselves to just embed sustainable practices within our products,” says Meyers.  “I don’t think it needs to be a consumer choice, it just needs to be an expectation and obligation for consumer companies to deliver.”

PepsiCo knows first hand how confusing food information can be.  Recently the company asked consumers: what is in a bag of Lays potato chips?  Answers included many things, including some sort of chemical reaction needed to make a chip.  To bring people a little closer to an understanding of where food comes from, the company added bar codes to packages that introduced the grower behind that bag of chips.

Some consumers are driven to local farmers and markets in order to make that connection, but PepsiCo thinks they can accomplish the same goal in a different way.  Its up to big companies to let the consumer know what is happening with their food, Meyers believes.

Listen to more of Meyer’s interview here: Interview with Rob Meyers, PepsiCo

Check out pictures from the conference: 2016 CUTC Photo Album;

Agribusiness, CUTC, Sustainability

ASA Hires New Communications Manager

Kelly Marshall

asa-whartonThe American Soybean Association (ASA) is pleased to welcome Jessica Wharton as the new State Policy Coordinator and Communications Manger. She began working out the D.C. office this week.

“We are excited to welcome Jessica to the ASA team,” said (ASA) CEO Steve Censky . “Her previous industry experience and communications knowledge will play a major role in coordinating ASA’s policy objectives and successes with our state affiliates.”

Previously Wharton worked for the American Farm Bureau Federation, coordinating policy communications and media relations.

“Jessica will fill a much needed position on our staff,” said John Gordley, director of ASA’s Washington office. “Linking producer support to ASA’s policy initiatives through our member states will make all of us more effective in getting soybean priorities acted on by Congress.”

Wharton is originally from Akron, Ohio and attended Palm Beach Atlantic University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations.

Ag Groups, ASA

Got Corn? Make Momomers Says DuPont at #CUTC16

Joanna Schroeder

Got corn? Then you can make some amazing things. For example, attendees at the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC16) that took place in St. Louis this week learned about making new momomers for corn? Say what? Let’s get some insight from biomaterial expert Michael Saltzberg who is the business director for DuPont Industrial Biosciences’ biomaterials business.

cutc-16-michael-saltzbergSaltzberg spoke on the Biorefining II panel where he discussed a new product they are developing in collaboration with ADM. They are working on a new momomer that uses fructose, from corn, as the raw material. It’s a process that uses chemical catalysis in a several step process that takes fructose to a momomer that’s called furan dicarboxylic acid methyl ester or FDME.

What’s exciting, said Saltzberg, is that this momomer can be used to make exiting new polymers especially in the packaging area. For example, helping soft drink and beer manufactures downgage their packaging but offer the same shelf life is important for them he said.

So what does this mean for the biorefinery industry? Saltzberg noted a major focus of the conference is to see what other applications can utilize some of the corn fractions. “This is a great way to take corn starch to fructose to a very valuable chemical out of it. So I think for the ag processing industry and for farmers it offers that kind of opportunity,” he said.

And for a company like DuPont, added Saltzberg, being able to develop new momomers through renewable raw materials and creating new polymers out of them enables them to assist their customers in solving some of their challenges.

To learn more about emerging momomers and their applications, listen to Chuck’s interview with Michael Saltzberg: Interview with Michael Saltzberg, DuPont

Check out pictures from the conference: 2016 CUTC Photo Album.

Audio, Corn, CUTC