ARS Scientists Receive FLC Recognition for Tech
Transfer
By Jim Core
May 4, 2005 Three Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are receiving federal
technology transfer awards today for research to improve cotton cleaning and
meat quality and to utilize a byproduct of cheesemaking.
The scientists are winners of the 2005 Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Awards for Excellence in Technology
Transfer. They are being awarded today during a ceremony in Orlando, Fla. FLC
is a nationwide network of more than 700 federal laboratories.
W.
Stanley Anthony, research leader of the ARS
Cotton
Ginning Research Unit, Stoneville, Miss., invented a device that cleans
cotton and reduces wasted fiber by more than 2 percent per bale. Anthony's new
lint cleaner is commercially marketed under the trade name LouverMax.
The invention prevents most good fiber from being ejected with the leaf
particles, sticks, stems, seed coat fragments, grass and bark that must be
removed. Cotton farmers using the technology can typically save $3 to $6 per
bale.
Animal physiologist
Mohammad
Koohmaraie and food technologists
Steven
Shackelford and
Tommy
Wheeler at the ARS Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC),
Clay Center, Neb., joined forces with a private company to further develop and
commercialize the MARC Beef Carcass Image Analysis Yield Classification System.
The system determines the yield of saleable meat using computerized image
analysis. ARS and Tyson
Fresh Meats, Inc. have made the technology available to the entire
industry, which could save $15 million annually by using the technology.
Charles
Onwulata, food technologist at the Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC),
Wyndmoor, Pa., developed a process to use whey as a key ingredient in
nutritious snack foods. Whey is a watery fluid left over after cheesemaking.
His new process produces crunchy snacks like those usually made from
high-starch products such as corn flour. By using whey, Onwulata's process
boosts protein in expanded foods. Several companies are interested in licensing
it, and one has developed several new, low-carbohydrate snacks using the
process.
In addition,
John P.
Cherry, ERRC's center director, is receiving one of three FLC Laboratory
Director of the Year Awards for his involvement in moving technology from the
center's research units to the marketplace.
ARS is the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.