Annual/Termination Reports:

[05/31/2011] [02/05/2012] [05/19/2015] [05/19/2015] [07/08/2015]

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Brief Summary of Minutes

Please see attached file for NC1100's 2011/2012 Budget and Business plan, as requested by the NCRA.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Participants

This project met virtually via the Adobe Connect platform to create a low-cost open forum on Land Grant technology transfer ideas. Due to the virtual format, exact names and emails of participants were not collected. Scott Loveridge served as convener. Martin Kenny made one presentation. Maureen Kilkenny (visiting fellow) made presentations on two occasions. An additional presentation was made by representatives of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). A presentation by Tom Harris, Steve Deller, and Stephan Goetz on the latest methods for identifying regional "clusters" complemented the other presentations. Most of the webinars are archived at the following address:
http://ncrcrd.msu.edu/ncrcrd/topic_area_economic_development

Brief Summary of Minutes

Dr. Maureen Kilkenny conducted a series of reports (under peer review process but available on demand). In the first study, she expolored methods for identifying which universities in the twelve state region are more adept at which disciplines (comparative advantage). In the second study, she inventoried current technology transfer practices in an attempt to determine whether any current efforts could be "scaled up" to the region. She concluded that many positive examples can be found in the region, but that individual states would first need to invest in better in-state systems before a joint & highly coordinated scaled up twelve-state effort could be effective (12 state effort needs partners in each state). She also identified MarketMaker (an online producer-customer matching tool initiated by U. Illinois but now available in several states) as an example stakeholder oriented effort that could be used for research or technology diffusion under certain conditions. She recommended strengthening MarketMaker.

Martin Kenny's presentation showed that patent ownership patterns may present a barrier to their development. Under the current prevailing system, ownership transfers to the host institution. He studied development at Waterloo University (Canada) after they changed their policy to allow faculty to maintain control of the patents. Overall research activities grew substantially after the change; more so than similar universities with no policy change.

The presentation by the Agricultural Research Service indicated substantial opportunities for LGU partnerships with that agency. The ARS is now much more oriented towards stakeholder input on technical needs and then assembling appropriate teams of ARS and non-ARS researchers to address issues.

Accomplishments

Dr. Kilkenny presented a summary of her results to webinar for Experiment Station Directors and Associate Directors. (Reports are available on demand and being revised for submission to peer reviewed outlet.) Her work served as a catalyst for a more refined approach to ag-technology diffusion. This year, Steven Gasteyer and colleagues from University of Nebraska are going to trace the evolution of how information about water moved from research to stakeholder settings across the past several decades. We are also initiating a new webinar series, "Innovations in Agriculture" to feature researchers from the twelve state regions and connect them with agricultural enterprises in the region in beyond via social media. <br /> <br /> Finally, we provided support for efforts to enhance MarketMaker. We assisted development of a new software platform that should reduce the costs of the system and developed a feasibility study for adding a labor component to the current of data, which focuses on sales of product. The new component, if added, will allow laborers and producers to more easily find each other during peak periods of labor need.

Publications

Kilkenny, M. Sponsored Research Specialties of North-Central Land Grant Universities. NCRCRD Report. <br /> <br /> Kilkenny, M. Exemplary Knowledge Transfer Activities at Land Grant Universities in the North Central Region. NCRCRD Report.<br /> <br /> Kilkenny, M. Facilitating Tech Transfer Region-Wide: Business Models. NCRCRD Report.<br /> <br /> Kilkenny, M. Facilitating Tech Transfer Region-Wide: Funding. NCRCRD Report.<br /> <br /> Kilkenny, M. Facilitating Tech Transfer Region-Wide: Surveys. NCRCRD Report.<br /> <br /> Lee, Jong S. Final Report on Investigating Better Alternative for MarketMaker Database.<br /> <br /> Hansen, R., Tordsen, C. and Herrman, I. MarketMaker Job Board. <br /> <br />

Impact Statements

1. Based on Kilkennys and Kennys reports, we are focusing part of our effort this year to engage university research faculty from the ag-related biophysical disciplines in promoting "shelf-ready" work and understanding key constraints they face in interacting with business. The work is two-fold--a webinar series to engage both and a background social media campaign to get people talking about barriers and solutions.

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All project business was conducted virtually over the course of the year. Funding was directed to the following individuals:

Key Contact: Gasteyer Stephen. Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, 316 Berkey Hall, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, Tel: 517-355-3505; Cell: 517-348-4136; Fax: 517-348-4136; gasteyer@msu.edu

Others:
Cody Knutson, National Drought Mitigation Center, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 819 Hardin Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, Tel: 402-472-6718 email: cknutson1@unl.edu

Anthony Schutz, College of Law, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 215 Law, Lincoln, NE 68583, Tel: 402-472-1248, email: aschutz2@unl.edu

Nicole Wall, National Drought Mitigation Center, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 804 Hardin Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, Tel: 402-472-6776, email: nwall2@unl.edu

Brief Summary of Minutes

No minutes due to virtual nature of interactions.

Accomplishments

This project involved two phases of research. 1) An archival analysis of books, reports, and media was implemented to document the role of key institutional actors in promoting irrigated crop production and soil and water conservation to improve the efficiency of these systems. 2) A series of guided discussions in the Republican River Basin of Nebraska was used to document how key stakeholders in affected communities perceived changes in information flows now and in the past.<br /> <br /> Phase 1: With research assistants, the research team analyzed both source documents such as Extension Bulletins dating to the 1940s to document how the activities and information that key land grant universities and colleges engaged in to improve farm productivity from 1940-2010. Researchers also summarized secondary documents pertaining to the development of irrigation and soil and water conservation activities in Nebraska and Kansas. <br /> <br /> The results are currently being developed into a research paper summarizing the development irrigated agriculture in the Republican River Basin. A preliminary version of this paper was presented at the International Water History Association Annual Conference in June 2013. <br /> The paper is being revised and finalized for publication. <br /> <br /> The researchers also drew on integrated research findings from other modeling projects including the NSF funded: Coupling Hydrologic, Economic, and Social Network Models to Improve Understanding of Surface Water-Groundwater Interactions for Protection of Instream Flows.” National Science Foundation (NSF#0709735). The model was combined with the historical documentation to summarize the integration of biophysical, economic and social factors in the emergence of current water conflict between Nebraska and Kansas and in the development of potential solutions to this conflict. <br /> <br /> Two papers are currently under development that explore the role of social networks and local culture in the development of sustainable solutions to long-term water management issues in this basin. <br /> <br /> <br /> In Phase II: The National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) (with PI, Stephen Gasteyer and Graduate Student) travelled to the Republican River Basin July 31 and August 1, 2013 for two NCRCRD funded group interview forums that sought information regarding water information flows and issues. <br /> <br /> The first listening session was in Oberlin, KS on July 31 and the second session was in Alma, NE on August 1. The NDMC organized the sessions in conjunction with the Republican River Riparian Restoration Partnership’s (RRRRP) board meetings. Both sessions focused on obtaining feedback related to water management and sustainability in the Republican River Basin. These interviews built on previously established relationships to involve key informants and stakeholders in the basin. There were a total of 20 participants at these group interviews whose demographic backgrounds represented producers, research and land conservation employees, natural resource district managers, community members in economic development, and state and federal water regulatory management positions. There were also two Nebraska State senators who participated in the Alma, NE feedback session. Dr. Stephen Gasteyer opened each session with an overview of previous research and then explained the background and purpose of the current small grant research. The NDMC worked with Dr. Gasteyer (and his graduate student) to develop the sessions’ public participation plan based on the specific questions that the team of researchers developed ahead of time.<br />

Publications

Gasteyer, S., and E. Benveniste. under review. Metering rainmakers: Hydropolitics,models, and the curtailing of overuse of water in southwestern US Great Plains. Rural Sociology. <br /> <br /> Shifting Intermediaries: Tracing the Land Grant Role in Water Management in Nebraska (1/29/14)S. Gasteyer (Michigan State University) & N. Wall (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) Recorded Presentation PowerPoint(pptx)

Impact Statements

1. Needs assessment to help drought-affected communities respond to emerging water needs.

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Participants

In FY14, the project focused its energies on developing relationships with biophysical scientists engaged in work that is able to be transferred to firms. Each scientist was featured in a virtual meeting with corporate decision makers to facilitate connections. Participating scientists included:

Don Spiers, University of Missouri
Kris Berglund, Michigan State University
Brian McSpadden Gardner, The Ohio State University
Daral Jackwood, The Ohio State University
Lance Shideman, University of Illinois
Rick Funston, University of Nebraska
DoKyoung Lee, University of Illinois
Dennis Hall, The Ohio State University
Tim Ellis, Iowa State University
Marla Spivak, University of Minnesota
Adel Talaat, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

Over the course of the year, the researcher-industry matching/dialog program engaged 417 decision-makers (mostly from the private sector) in conversations with researchers about emerging land grant technologies. Each researcher participated in an NCRCRD produced and hosted session to facilitate the engagement.

Publications

Archived presentations, accessible by the general public:<br /> <br /> Pan Genome Systems: Developing a novel and effective vaccine for Johne’s Disease (9/24/14)Adel Talaat, University of Wisconsin-Madison & Jon Sandbrook, President of Pan Genome Systems<br /> Summary: Pan Genome Systems is currently developing a novel and effective vaccine which is delivered one-time in the first 30 days of life of the animal and provides a lifetime of protection. The potential global market for such a vaccine in the dairy cattle industry is estimated to be $280-360 million per year, with around $50-70 million of this in the U.S. <br /> <br /> <br /> Responding to an S.O.S. from the Commercial Beekeeping Industry (4/22/14)<br /> Marla Spivak, University of Minnesota<br /> Summary: As bees are directly or indirectly responsible for 35% of our diet through their pollination services, it is critical to increase effort to keep bees healthy and to provide hands-on assistance to the beleaguered beekeeping industry throughout the U.S. <br /> <br /> <br /> High rate renewable energy production with the Static Granular Bed Reactor (SGBR) (4/3/14)Tim Ellis, Iowa State University<br /> Summary: An exciting new anaerobic treatment technology, the static granular bed reactor (SGBR), has been developed and patented at Iowa State University to treat a variety of wastewaters from municipal, industrial, and agricultural sources. Due to its unique reactor configuration, the SGBR allows for more efficient and cost-effective treatment in a smaller footprint, without the need for expensive membranes, heat exchangers, mixers, etc.<br /> <br /> <br /> Expediting the Commercialization of Biobased Products via OBIC’s ® "Cell to Sell" Innovation Model (3/27/14) Dennis Hall, The Ohio State University<br /> Summary: OBIC is a Bioproduct Innovation Center in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. This presentation will discuss a unique cluster development strategy that brings together stakeholders from across the biobased product supply chain.<br /> <br /> <br /> Integrating perennial grasses for sustainable agricultural systems to maximize farm profitability (3/11/14) DoKyoung (D.K.) Lee, University of Illinois<br /> Summary: Dr. Lee will discuss sustainable agricultural systems integrated with perennial grasses; how to design and establish market potential, a case study, and an on-farm example. <br /> <br /> <br /> Increasing production efficiency through reproductive management (2/18/14)<br /> Rick Funston, University of Nebraska <br /> Summary: Dr. Funston will discuss the importance of having a high percentage of beef calves born early in “your” calving season, whenever that is. This event coupled with overall reproductive rate is a major economic driver in cow/calf operations and has a profound impact on the profitability of any beef cattle operation.<br /> <br /> <br /> Maximizing Bioenergy Production during Wastewater Treatment (5/22/13)<br /> Lance Schideman, University of Illinois<br /> Summary: Discover new advances in the production of biodiesel from swine waste. This new technology allows for recaptured waste water, which is still rich in production materials, to be further refined and used to increase final biodiesel output.<br /> <br /> <br /> New Poultry Vaccine Tech: Leadership for Advanced Responses to Animal Diseases (5/14/13)Daral Jackwood, The Ohio State University<br /> Summary: Challenges related to poultry vaccines and Dr. Jackwood will present a solution that his new venture, Leadership for Advanced Responses to Animals Diseases, is employing by using the VLP technology.<br /> <br /> <br /> Thermal Aid: Managing Heat Stress in Cattle (2/12/13)<br /> Don Spiers, University of Missouri<br /> Summary: Thermal Aid is a smart phone app that combines information on both weather and/or respiration rate of livestock that allow producers to make crucial decisions regarding environmental stress and animal welfare. <br /> <br /> <br /> Working with Distilled Spirits (2/26/13)Kris Berglund, Michigan State University<br /> Summary: Explore new fermentation technology options in the production of distilled spirits from Dr. Kris Berglund, a distinguished professor and entrepreneur.<br /> <br /> <br /> Farm-Based Biocontrol Seed Treatments for Improving Soybean Yields (3/28/13)<br /> Brian McSpadden Gardener, Ohio State University<br /> Summary: Beneficial bacteria exist in all agricultural soils. However, their natural distribution does not allow maximum benefits to be conferred to the crop. Treating seed with beneficial bacteria can help to ensure proper root colonization and expression of beneficial activities. <br />

Impact Statements

1. 417 decision makers learned about emerging land grant technologies through direct interaction with research faculty

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Brief Summary of Minutes

NC1100 Meeting Notes
Date: June 17, 2015
Time: 4:00 PM ET



1. In attendance: John Mann (Mich State), Scott Loveridge (NCRCRD), Michael Ladisch (Purdue), Richard Goe (Kansas State), Martin Kenney (U. Calif-Davis)


2. Inventor-investor matching program


a. For the fall 2015, there are two webinars tentatively scheduled:


i. Mike Ladisch @ Purdue University – innovation training for researchers


1. follow up in July


ii. Mark Cook @ University of Wisconsin


iii. Goal to have at least 5 webinars in the fall, and 5 in spring


b. Discussion of further developing faculty network regarding faculty entrepreneurs


3. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) paper/further exploration


a. Discussion of paper presented at MCRSA conference


i. Share revised version with group (try for July date) for additional feedback


b. Further/additional research


i. Expand data to match firms to patenting


ii. Consideration of firm award impacts of multiple awarded firms vs first time awarded firms


iii. Consider SBIR mills


4. New collaborative efforts for group


a. Summer/fall 2015 NSF – potential proposal to submit


b. Goal is to try for 2 new proposals for the fall 2015, and 2 proposals for spring 2016


i. Look for how we can take advantage of shift in new venture capital and financing for agricultural technologies


c. Potential paper(s)/webinars on:


i. VC and financing, differences in investor expectations


ii. potential exit strategies for Ag-Tech


iii. in general the differences between Ag-Tech and other technologies


d. Potential examination of FFAR program, and how the inventor-investing matching program may fit into this


e. Potential book idea – potential case studies on value of firm interactions with land grants, and that leads to economic development


i. Maybe each group member write a chapter


ii. Consider extension, since this plays strong role in agriculture


iii. Look for potential funding for this effort


iv. Maybe circulate to other groups, e.g., in Europe


f. NSF NRT (NSF research training) – is there a way to expand our work to support the NRT or incorporate it into work


5. Other 2015-16 Goals


a. Recruit additional NC1100 participants from unrepresented states


6. Tentative Summer 2016 Meeting


a. July 2016 - APLU’s Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness, and Economic Prosperity (CICEP)


b. Potential presentation at conference, need to talk with Jim Woodell


c. Do a pre- or post- meeting for NC1100 at the 2016 conference

Accomplishments

Publications

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