In April 2021, four Michigan State University plant scientists met at an undisclosed area on campus to dig up a bottle containing seeds buried more than 144 years ago by MSU botanist William J. Beal. Fast forward to 2023, more than two years after the seeds were excavated from their secret location, molecular genetic testing …
Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension) in partnership with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the MSU Pesticide Safety Education Program are offering an in-person core manual review class followed by a core pesticide applicator certification testing on Dec. 7, 2023, during the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo at …
One in six people experience a foodborne illness each year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that foodborne illnesses cost the United States more than $15.6 billion each year. Research from Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) is using artificial intelligence (AI) to train a computer to detect pathogens …
Few people likely realize that agriculture is the second largest industry in Michigan, employing almost 25 percent of the workforce in the state. Michigan is also the second most agriculturally diverse state in the nation, thanks to the variety and volume of specialty crops that are grown here. It should be little surprise then, that …
The Michigan State University Board of Trustees has authorized two infrastructure projects critical to the future of Michigan food production and agriculture. Substantial renovations and additions to the Plant Sciences Greenhouses are being made as well as the construction of an updated, state-of-the-art Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, with the state of Michigan providing …
Two Michigan State University College of Natural Science (NatSci) microbiologists, Shannon Manning and Gemma Reguera, are 2024 recipients of prestigious awards from the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). They are among 17 faculty members who received ASM awards nationally. Manning, an MSU Research Foundation Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (MMG) was …
Spartans are innovating batteries, electronics, composite materials and more to push electric vehicles farther while training the nation’s future workforce. Researchers at Michigan State University are building battery packs that will deliver higher voltages and lower currents than what electric vehicles use now. The work provides opportunities for improvements, especially as it dovetails with MSU’s …
Compostability certification of polymers is time-consuming and expensive. Approaches to accelerating the biodegradation of these polymers in simulated composting conditions can facilitate and speed up evaluating potential compostable polymers. Biodegradation of polymers in composting conditions is an alternative end-of-life scenario for contaminated materials collected through the municipal solid waste management system, mainly when mechanical or …
Younsuk Dong, an assistant professor and Extension specialist at Michigan State University’s Department of Biosystem and Agricultural Engineering, has been recognized by MSU Extension with the 2023 Innovative Technology Award for his LOCOMOS technology. LOCOMOS (Low-Cost Monitoring System) uses affordable sensors and monitoring tools to provide real-time data on soil moisture levels, allowing farmers to …
Updated from an original article written by Rafael Auras. Hydrolytic degradation of poly(lactic acid): Unraveling correlations between temperature and the three-phase structures Polymer Degradation & Stability, 2023, (217) 110537 Hydrolysis significantly influences both the properties and degradability of poly(lactic acid), PLA. This work investigates the hydrolysis kinetics of PLA films as affected by degree …
