Produce Quality and New Uses (NP 306) 2024 Annual Report

Significant Accomplishments for FY 2024 – NP306: Component # 1 Foods: Winemaking byproducts fortify flour formulations. --- Single microwave frequency determines moisture in peanut kernels. --- New enhanced method for accurate, precise, and efficient detection of catfish off-flavor volatiles. --- Peppers may help lower blood sugar levels. --- First time growing peanut plants from partial peanut kernels. --- Potentially saving sharks from overfishing with perennial oilseed. --- Component # 2 Non-Foods: Turning old cash into nanocellulose for use in new engineered materials. --- New tool for round cotton modules that reduces plastic contamination. --- Eastern red cedar has versatile uses in capturing toxins, repelling red imported fire ants, and preventing termite and wood decay fungi. --- New dual-arm apple harvesting robot. --- Biodegradable biobased films for consumer products. --- New treatment methods to help eliminate a $6 billion poultry disease. --- Biochar produced from the cash crop sugarcane pays further dividends by increasing other crop yields. --- Faster, safer, cheaper field diagnostic kit for the invasive Lebbeck mealybug. --- Component # 3 Biorefining: New biodiesel from pennycress reduces greenhouse gases. --- Jojoba oil biodiesel benefits the environment. --- Improved brewer’s yeast for advanced biofuels. --- Oxygen-limited fermentation condition for 2,3-Butanediol production. Includes citations to relevant publications (with doi.org links to peer-reviewed articles).