Ohio Buckeye or Ohio Algae?!

Recently government leaders and fuel refiners met in Ohio to explore producing fuel from several food and non-food crops. The article explains the future of air carrier fuel, which would be farm-grown.  Members of the USDA’s Ohio Rural Development office, Ohio Aerospace Institute, Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative and Air Transport Association gathered to discuss efforts of creating reliable, clean and costly renewable jet bio-fuels to introduce petroleum based aviation fuel market.

The Executive Director of Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, Rich Altman, said, “This is a landmark opportunity for the evolution of the country’s energy policies and our success will depend on us embracing a truly cooperative effort. We have to develop a new fuel dynamic that incorporates long term economic solutions to the nation’s growing energy needs.”

Representatives from several Ohio based farm groups are exploring a future with energy crops like, algae, corn, switch grass, miscanthus (large perennial grass hybrid native to Japan) and other food crops. According to the article, “the crops will be raised as feedstock’s for bio-refined jet fuels as well as ‘drop-in’ motor fuels.”

Dale Arnold, Ohio Farm Bureau’s Director of Energy Services stated, “Farmers are eager to work cooperatively towards the development of alternative aviation fuel products as a way to help reduce the nation’s petroleum dependency.”

I think this is a wonderful endeavor. And the fact that people are finally starting to realize we are destroying the end zone is monumental. The fact that food crops can be used for bio-fuel shows that technology is invaluable. In the 21st century has shown that anything is possible!!! And who knows, maybe these cops can be used for motor vehicle fuel. Hopefully that will increase the cost of gas to decrease. $3.96 a gallon is too rich for my blood, especially because I drive an SUV. The other day it cost me $64 dollars to fill up…that’s a crying shame!!!

Nanotechnology in food?

Nanotechnology is currently being used in the Food industry. According to an article recently posted on the Scientific American the Miller Brewing Co. is at the forefront of using nanoparticles in food packaging. In fact Miller has started to produce plastic beer bottles imbeded with clay nanoparticles to decrease breakability and improve shelf-life. Several other products like Simply H's Toddler Health nutritional drink mike and a wide range of cooking and cleaning products have nano-size particles of various substances within the product.

The environmental group Friends of the Earth reported that none of the more than 100 food or food-related products it identifies as containing nanoparticles bears a warning label or has undergone safety testing by government agencies. "Products created using nanotechnology have entered the food chain. Preliminary studies indicate there is a serious risk…. We should know that it's safe before we put it in our food," says report author Ian Illuminato, FoE's health and environment lobbyist.

For example, it remains unclear whether nanoparticles used in food packaging might migrate or leach into food or beverages. And it is completely unknown what impact a wide variety of these nanoparticles might have on human health. "It all comes down to the need for more research. We can't fly blind here. We need to know what's going on," Maynard says. "There is no hard evidence that nanomaterials in products on the market will harm humans or the environment, but there is enough evidence to say that we need to reexamine.''


The report builds on several studies in recent years that have shown that some nanoparticles may cause harm. A 2005 study in Environmental Science & Technology showed that zinc oxide nanoparticles were toxic to human lung cells in lab tests even at low concentrations. Other studies have shown that tiny silver particles killed liver and brain cells from rats. "They are more chemically reactive and more bioactive," Illuminato says, because of their size, which allows them to easily penetrate organs and cells. "Products should be at least labeled so consumers can choose whether they want to be part of this experiment."

GMO's or genetically modified foods and irradiated foods have been questioned for safety. Now it is nano particles turn to be analyzed, critiqued, poked and prodded. Soon scientist will be able to prove that nanotechnology within  food and food packaging is safe. Stay tuned, more to come.

EDIBLE 3D ART

The French Culinary Institute in Manhattan is clearly at the forefront of culinary arts, with its new 3D food printer. An innovative group of students and faculty members at the distinguished Cornell University built the first 3D printer as a project and began to test it on food. The French Culinary Institute are the first and only to experience this incredible technology.

Associate professor Hod Lipson is the head of the project, which came out of Cornell’s Fab@Home venture. The project was started in 2005 and targeted to “create do-it-yourself versions of machines that can manufacture custom objects on-demand. The group started experimenting with food fabrication in 2007.”

The device currently looks “like an industrial fabrication machine.” However, if proven successful will be honed in, to create a slick printer like device, that could even be used in the comfort of your own home. Syringes of icing or chocolate are loaded into the printer like cartridges in an HP inkjet. The “ingredient-filled syringes will then ‘print’ icing on a cupcake.” Jeff Lipton, a Cornell grad student pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering explained, "You hand [the computer] three bits of info: a shape that you want, a description of how that shape can be made, and a description of how that material that you want to print with works."

Lipton boasted, “Food printing will be ‘the killer app’ of 3D printing. Just like video games fueled demand for personal computers 30 years ago, he thinks the lure of feeding Grandma's cookie recipe into a printer will help personal fabricators expand beyond the geek crowd.” He stated, "It's really going to be the next phase of the digital revolution,"

Personally I do not like to cook, even though I’m fairly good at it. However, this technology may make cooking for the holidays a less daunting task! Imagine 3D icing designs of snowmen, Christmas trees, snowflakes and etc. on you mother’s mouth-watering cookies. I certainly look forward to this technology!!!

ADM Agriculture Innovation Center at Purdue University

The Archer Daniels Midland Company has agreed to gift $1.5 million to Purdue University’s School of Agriculture. The money will be used to construct the ADM Agriculture Innovation Center. The center will feature 27,000 square feet of laboratory space and state of the art classrooms for advanced agricultural research. Senior vice president of ADM, Craig Huss stated, "As the global population continues to grow, the world is looking toward agriculture to create viable, sustainable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing needs – like an abundant food supply and advanced renewable fuels. To help our industry meet this challenge, ADM is pleased to invest in Purdue University." Huss also believes this honorable monetary gift will, "help develop the next generation of industry leaders.”

ADM has maintained a longstanding partnership with Purdue and has continued to prepare Purdue students to lead innovative initiatives in the agricultural arena, acoording to Purdue Universities distinguished commander in chief, President France A. Cordova. ADM has recruited more students from Purdue than any other university. Purdue is surely a world class institution and this generous gift shows that ADM supports only the best of the best.

Construction of the ADM Agricultural Innovation Center is scheduled to begin in May 2011.

What is ADM?

Archer Daniel Midland is a company that owns and operates over 270 food processing plants worldwide. The variouss plants process a variety of commodities such as- oil seeds and cereal grains, which are processed into products used in nutraceutical, food, beverage, industrial and animal feed industires/markets. ADM has also made plans to invest in bioenergy projects, which focus on both biodiesel and ethanol.


Oil/Meal Products derived from:
-Soybeans
-Canola
-Sunflower seeds
-Corn germ
-Corn gluleten feed pellets
-Cottonseed
-Flaxseed

Other Products:
-Syrup
-Peanuts
-Ethanol
-Glucose
-Dextrose
-High fructose corn syrup sweeteners
-Coca butter
-Coca liquor
-Cocoa powder
-Diacylglycerol oil

"In-Vitro" Meats Might be The Ultimate Solution to Upcoming Food Shortage

Scientist have recently predicted a future global shortage of food, which is a direct result of the dwindling amounts of available land for raising livestock. However, the calvary has come to the rescue! Developmental Biologist and tissue engineer, Dr. Vladimir Mironov M.D., Ph.D., of the Medical University of South Carolina, has worked for more than 10 years to culture meat. Mironov is extremely eager to share his methods with the word, in hopes that the world will be able to put an ultimate end to hunger, especially in developing countries. But, he has hit an unforeseen funding barricade. Government funded organizations such as The National Aeronautics and Space Administration briefly funded the Mironov’s efforts, but quickly pulled backing. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the National Institute of Health, have both refused to fund the growth of “in-vitro” meats. According to Mironov, "Bringing any new technology on the market, average, costs $1 billion. We don't even have $1 million."

"There's a yuck factor when people find out meat is grown in a lab. They don't like to associate technology with food," said Nicholas Genovese, a scholar in cancer cell biology working under a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals three-year grant to run Dr. Mironov's meat-growing lab. "But there are a lot of products that we eat today that are considered natural that are produced in a similar manner," Genovese said.

Genetically modified (GMO) foods are already normal practice and are now widely accepted. It’s only a matter of time until cultured meats are accepted as well! Stay tuned for new developments on this “in-vitro” meats and other food/technology based topics.

Welcome to The Food Manufacturning & Technology blog!!

Welcome to the exciting world of  Food Science and Technology! This blog has been designed to address all facets of technology within the Food Science and Food Manufacturing industries. This site will provide coverage of the latest developments, product innovations and industry news. 
Stay tuned for some exciting new developments!