2021 MTRAC AgBio Awardees

AWARDEE INSTITUTION Project information TYPE
Alfaro, Jose University of Michigan Advancing the Circular Economy Through Biomass Residue Management. Work under this project will focus on a scalable, locally deployable system for turning crop and forestry residues into multiple commercial products. This project seeks to bring promising gasification and biochar technologies to a commercialization-ready status by improving the properties of the biochar using biotechnology and optimizing the operation parameters and performance flexibility of a prototype gasifier. Full
Burns, Mark University of Michigan Crop Moisture Monitoring and Water-Use Optimization Sensor. In this project, Dr. Burns and team will implement and evaluate an AI-based moisture monitoring and water-need prediction system. The system provides a potential framework for optimization of real-time crop wellness and moisture supply adjustment (irrigation). This project focuses on the assembly, deployment, monitoring, and performance assessment of 20 field-ready sensor cubes under field conditions in a premier wine grape region. Full
Grieshop, Matthew Michigan State University High-Efficiency Fixed Irrigation System for Orchards, Vineyards, and Indoor Agriculture. The project seeks to advance the pre-commercial development of an advanced Solid Set Canopy Delivery System (SSCDS). The so-called “Z-system” represents a new SSCDS design and technology that seeks to improve the precision and efficiency of input product delivery to perennial crops cultivated in open-field plantings (most commonly apples) or protected agriculture installations, such as high tunnels, hoop houses, or greenhouses. Full
Lin, Xiaoxia University of Michigan Fermentation Strain Improvement for Specialty Chemical Production. This project seeks to advance a series of new high-throughput strain improvement technologies developed in the Lin lab and demonstrated in laboratory (i.e., E. coli) strains. In this project, Lin and colleagues will seek to extend the applicability of these tools to a more robust set of industrial organisms for the purpose of producing two distinct specialty chemical products. Full
Rabnawaz, Muhammed Michigan State University Coated, Thermally Sealed Paper as a Replacement to Single-Use Plastic Bags. This project follows an earlier MTRAC AgBio Starter Grant focused on developing a thermally sealable coated paper that can replace single-use plastic bags. The technology offers the potential for a biodegradable, re-pulpable, and recyclable solution. Full
Dong, Younsuk Michigan State University Improving Water and Disease Management using an Easy-to-Use Smartphone App. Starter
Hooper, Sharon Michigan State University Lectin Free, High Protein Bean Flour: Infrared technology with novel compression-decompression mill Starter
Liu, Yan Michigan State University Production of Vegan Cat Food from Pulse Crops and Hemp Seeds Starter
Johnson, Valerie Michigan State University Regenerative Therapies for Osteoarthritis in Zoo Animals Starter
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