ARS technologies that turn renewable commodities
like soybeans into "green" products, and which can be available for
licensing, will be on display to entrepreneurs at a showcase co-hosted by the
Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). Click the image for
more information about it.
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ARS, TEDCO Showcase Latest "Green"
Technologies
By Jan Suszkiw
October 30, 2008 BALTIMORE, Oct. 30,
2008What do chicken feathers and soybean oil have in common? Both are
bio-based resources for environmentally friendly products such as biodegradable
flower pots and petroleum-free printing inks. These and other "green"
technologies are on display at a showcase here today co-hosted by the
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and
the Maryland Technology Development
Corporation (TEDCO).
ARS is a U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) intramural scientific research agency that employs approximately 2,100
scientists at more than 100 research locations in the United States and abroad.
TEDCO, headquartered in Columbia, Md., is an independent entity established by
the Maryland General Assembly in 1998 to
facilitate the creation of businesses throughout the state and foster their
growth.
"ARS and TEDCO are working together to furnish small-business operators
with access to the latest technologies and scientific expertise necessary to
develop new and improved consumer products," said Assistant Administrator
Rick
Brenner, with the
ARS
Office of Technology Transfer in Beltsville.
"Today's showcase demonstrates ARS' and TEDCO's commitment to
furthering and supporting technologies that better our environment and quality
of life," said Renée Winsky, president and executive director of
TEDCO.
As part of today's showcase, ARS and TEDCO will commemorate the one-year
anniversary of a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) which established a
formal mechanism by which ARS can leverage TEDCO's existing relationship with
Maryland businesses to better ascertain their technology needs and notify them
of opportunities to partner with ARS on development and commercialization of
technologies. As part of the commemoration, TEDCO will present ceremonial
funding checks to two Maryland companiesChesapeake Microproducts and
CrispTek, LLCto further their use of ARS-developed technologies.
TEDCO has hosted four technology showcases for ARS'
Henry
A. Wallace Beltsville (Md.) Agricultural Research Center since 2000.
Today's event is the first that TEDCO has hosted for ARS agency-wide. The
program's agenda includes an opening ceremony, keynote speakers, interactive
demonstrations and breakout sessions on biofuels, bio-based products and
sustainable agriculture.
Under the PIA, TEDCO is providing funding to Chesapeake Microproducts of
Salisbury, Md., to produce biodegradable materials for horticultural pots made
from chicken feathers, using technology developed by ARS scientists. The PIA
has also enabled CrispTek, a new small business in Columbia, Md., to begin
commercializing a gluten-free, rice-flour-based batter developed by ARS that
reduces the oil uptake of fried foods. CrispTek was established to
commercialize this technology, for which ARS granted them a license in April.
According to Brenner, ARS plans to establish similar PIAs with other U.S.
economic development organizations to further the use and development of ARS
research and technology throughout the nation.