Iowa leaders celebrate fifth anniversary of Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy at the BCRF

Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, along with a broad cross section of Iowa political, agricultural and community leaders, celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy at the BioCentury Research Farm on May 29. The Strategy is a science and technology-based framework to assess and reduce nutrient loss from both point sources (such as municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants) and nonpoint sources (stormwater runoff from both urban and agricultural landscapes) in Iowa. The Strategy was finalized on May 29, 2013, and in the five years since there has been significant work by farmers, landowners, communities, businesses, stakeholders and partners to help improve water quality in Iowa. Read more.

Research project aims to develop biobased carbon fiber

A research project by a group of College of Engineering researchers aims to develop a biobased carbon fiber with potential for use in anything from cars to wind turbines. Carbon fiber is a high-tensile strength, high performance material that can serve as a lighter alternative for certain metal alloys. However, carbon fiber is currently produced using petroleum-derived materials which increases its cost. The research team will be investigating ways to produce high performance carbon fiber using biobased alternative sources. The team will use the pilot-scale pyrolysis reactor located at the BCRF to breakdown lignin that will be used to make the carbon fiber. BCRF affiliates, Eric Cochran, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering, and Robert C. Brown, Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering and Gary and Donna Hoover Chair in Mechanical Engineering, are part of the project.  Read more.

Reports update research results at Iowa State University research farms

The results of more than 120 agricultural research trials conducted last year at Iowa State University’s Research and Demonstration Farms, including the BCRF, are available online and can be downloaded at no charge. Read more. 

View BCRF's report on the Iowa State Digital Repository.

Former BCRF student employee accepted to CYstarters

After a 10-week intensive accelerator program this summer, a new cohort of ISU student entrepreneurs will come up for air with a plan to move their startup businesses forward. Max Gangestad, a December graduate in agricultural engineering and a former BCRF student employee, is now a bioprocess engineer at Gross-Wen Technologies. Gross-Wen has seen tremendous success with its patented algal wastewater treatment technology. Gangestad is heading into CYstarters with a new way to use that technology, called GWT Micronutrients to Algae. Gross-Wen was started by Martin Gross, a postdoctoral research associate in food science and human nutrition (FSHN), and Zhiyou Wen, professor of FSHN and BCRF affiliate, and is a client in BCRF's industry incubator program. Read more.

Student employee recognized at student employee of the year ceremony 

The BCRF nominated Ryan Werner, a spring graduate in agricultural engineering, for the 2018 Iowa State University Student Employee of the Year award. Werner began working at the BCRF in August 2015 and provided technical assistance to faculty and off-campus clients. His support led to increased productivity, decreased downtime, and direct cost project savings of more than $20,000 during the 2017-18 academic school year. Werner along with other ISU student employee nominees were recognized at a ceremony held Feb. 27, 2018.

Research activities at the BCRF

Below is a list of research projects happening at the BCRF: 

• The BCRF conducted a one-day safety training for 13 participants. 
• Milling and pelletizing projects using switchgrass and corn stover have been completed for various industry and university clients. 
• Bale study projects are continuing for Idaho National Laboratory and private industry as well. 
• Materials testing and other projects are continuing in the Algal Production Facility. 
• The Bio-Polymer Processing Plant has started the second phase of their project. 
• The Bioeconomy Institute researchers are continuing to run autothermal pyrolysis tests.

Visitors tour BCRF 

BCRF had the following visitors: Cool Planet, Easy Energy Systems, FFA, FSHN 472, Iowa Central Community College, Jiangnan University International Joint Research Laboratory Symposium on Lipid Nutrition and Safety, Jupeng Bio, Ozark Wood Fiber, and Penn State.