Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center Receives $6.5M Grant for Biogas, Bioenergy Research

November 1, 2012 | OSU Extension

News Release — WOOSTER, Ohio — Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) has received a $6.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy to test and expand a university-developed technology that can produce biogas from a variety of solid organic wastes and bioenergy crops.

Awarded through the Biomass Research Development Initiative (BRDI), the three-year grant will also allow researchers to develop technology for converting biogas to liquid hydrocarbon fuels, with the aim of further diversifying the country’s currently available suite of renewable transportation fuels. Read More

Ohio State University Study Examines How Residents of Rural Food Deserts Access Fresh Produce

October 29, 2012 | OSU Extension

News Release — WOOSTER, Ohio — “Food deserts” are normally thought of as low-income, blighted urban neighborhoods with little access to fresh, reasonably priced fruits and vegetables.

But rural areas, despite their wide-open spaces and fertile farmland, can be food deserts, too.

An Ohio State University Extension community development specialist worked with two student interns to examine this seeming paradox to discover more about people who live in rural food deserts and how they access fresh produce. Read More

Food Safety Issues Focus of New Research and Extension Outreach Venture

September 22, 2012 | OSU Extension

News Release – FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Faculty from Michigan State University, Ohio State University and Purdue University gathered earlier this month in a new effort to strengthen both research and Extension outreach in food safety issues.

“These are all exceptional agriculture institutions in their own right, but when you combine them you suddenly have a phenomenal research and Extension powerhouse,” said John Baker, associate director of MSU AgBioResearch. “We’re striving to stimulate and develop our regional efforts by honing in on the synergy across these three universities.” Read More

Space Gardening? Ohio State Creates Food-production System for Future NASA Missions

September 18, 2012 | OSU Extension

News Release — WOOSTER, Ohio — Say you are on Mars and fancy a salad. Unless the Curiosity rover can make an unexpected find of fresh romaine somewhere on the dusty Red Planet, you are looking at a nine-month trip to the nearest produce aisle on Earth. A better option? Grow the salad yourself.

That’s exactly the approach NASA is taking as it plans for future manned expeditions to places like the moon or Mars, where food availability will be a significant challenge. Joining this mission is a team of Ohio State University researchers and students who are helping NASA figure out the best way to grow food aboard space exploration units. Read More

Survey Results Reveal Global Hunger May Be Double Previous Estimates, Says Ohio State Researcher

February 23, 2012 | OSU Extension

New Release – (COLUMBUS, OH, Feb 23) – A household food and nutrition survey developed in part by an Ohio State University researcher is uncovering a clearer picture of hunger and malnutrition throughout the world.

Although the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has in the past estimated that 1 billion people in the world go hungry or are malnourished, the surveys being used now, said Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez, indicate the number may be double that. Read More