Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

NC 213 Annual Meeting 2026.

Guided pre-meeting tour was done for the Food Science and Grain evaluation units at University of Arkansas

The meeting commenced with opening and welcoming remarks by Prof David Caldwell, Department Chair, Food Science, University of Arkansas.

The meeting progressed in alignment with the agenda.

Administrative Remarks

In his remarks Gary Pierzynski highlighted

New objectives for the group required for 2028 and should be in by Sept 2027. He implored the executive and group as a whole to commence work as soon as possible.

USDA proposal call should be out soon with emphasis on outcomes.

He informed that he’ll be returning to faculty next year and their will be a new representative identified.

Technical Presentation

Technical presentations proceeded according to the scheduled program. A brief interruption occurred due to a fire alarm; however, this did not significantly disrupt the flow of the meeting, and the program resumed as planned.

The General Meeting

The General Meeting was called to order by Chair Salah Issa, and proceedings followed the agenda.

Roll call

Roll call of attendees was done with participants (attendee list attached) noted from the following stations (University of Arkansas, Texas A&M, Purdue University, Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, North Dakota State University, Kansas State University, USDA and Industry Representatives).

Awards

Best Poster Award - Josiah Ojeniran

NC 213 Andersons Early Career Award – Deandrae Smith (Purdue University)

NC 213 Andersons Career Award - Gretchen A. Mosher (Iowa State University)

Secretary Election

Nomination for Mahfuzur Rahman (University of Arkansas). Parliamentary procedures were observed and he was duly elected Secretary.

Board

New board was announced

Salah Issa (Past-chair)

George Annor (Chair)

Clairmont Clementson (Vice-Chair)

Mahfuzur Rahman (Secretary)

Objective leaders remain

Meeting location

Meeting schedule is set to 2031

Open Discussion

Several issues were raised during open discussion:

It was noted that no financial update was presented during the meeting. A brief historical overview of the NC-213 group was discussed, and members emphasized the importance of providing regular financial reports to ensure transparency and planning continuity.

The absence of administrative staff at the meeting was noted. Members emphasized that administrative representation would be beneficial to assist with meeting logistics and maintain the professional organization of the meeting.

Members recommended that the Executive Board take a more active role in organizing the meeting structure, particularly by clustering presentations according to thematic or methodological areas to improve coherence and discussion.

Adjournment

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made and seconded. The meeting was subsequently adjourned.

NC-213 Accomplishments and Impact Statement

Advancing Grain Quality, Food Safety, and Value Across the U.S. Grain Supply Chain

Summary

The NC-213 U.S. Quality Grains Research Committee advanced innovative technologies, predictive tools, and sustainable processing strategies that improved grain quality, food safety, storage management, and value-added utilization of grains and oilseeds across the United States. Through multi-institutional collaborations involving universities, USDA-ARS, industry partners, and international stakeholders, the committee developed practical solutions that reduced postharvest losses, improved food and feed safety, enhanced grain processing efficiency, and strengthened market opportunities for emerging grain products and coproducts.  

Situation

Grain and oilseed industries face increasing challenges related to postharvest losses, food and feed safety, climate variability, insect and fungal contamination, declining storage efficiency, and growing demand for sustainable, high-quality, and nutritious grain-based products. Traditional grain monitoring and quality assessment methods are often labor-intensive, slow, and reactive rather than predictive. In addition, producers and processors require improved tools to manage risks associated with aflatoxins, mycotoxins, storage deterioration, veterinary drug carryover, and off-odor development in stored grains. Simultaneously, consumers and food manufacturers are demanding more functional, plant-based, and nutritionally enhanced grain ingredients, while supply chains seek better economic efficiency and reduced waste. These challenges directly affect grain producers, feed manufacturers, processors, exporters, food companies, regulators, and consumers across domestic and international markets.  

Accomplishments

NC-213 researchers implemented coordinated, multi-state research and outreach programs to improve grain quality management, processing technologies, and food safety systems across the grain supply chain. Key accomplishments included:

• Development of advanced food safety and quality management systems for feed mills to reduce veterinary drug carryover and improve compliance with FDA Food Safety Modernization Act regulations. Researchers developed rapid tracer-based screening methods and carryover prediction tools for feed manufacturing systems.  
• Creation of predictive machine learning models and decision-support systems for stored grain management that integrated sensor-based monitoring data with economic loss estimation, allowing producers and grain elevators to better manage grain quality deterioration and financial risks during storage.  
• Evaluation and promotion of stored grain monitoring technologies and AI-enabled actionable decision-support frameworks to improve adoption of smart grain management systems among farmers and grain elevators.  
• Development of low-cost, sustainable postharvest protection strategies, including oxygen-scavenging hermetic storage systems and botanical nanoemulsion fumigants that achieved rapid insect mortality while preserving grain quality without synthetic pesticides.  
• Advancement of rapid grain quality diagnostic methods such as GlutoPeak testing for high-throughput screening of wheat gluten functionality and end-use quality, improving efficiency in breeding and grain quality evaluation programs.  
• Development of science-based quality metrics for emerging crops such as industrial hemp and perennial grains, including Kernza®, to support breeding, processing optimization, commercialization, and expansion of sustainable grain markets.  
• Improvement of feed and food safety through enhanced analytical methods for vitamin D quantification, aflatoxin risk prediction models, proficiency testing programs, and international grain safety collaborations in Africa and other global regions.  
• Investigation of grain composition, dietary fiber functionality, and protein extraction technologies to support development of high-value plant-based ingredients and functional foods derived from maize bran, alfalfa seed, hemp, and other grain crops.  

Objective 1 Publications

Oral/Poster Presentation

Animal Industry Committee Meeting, Iowa State University Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex (U.S.), Agri-Business Association of Iowa, June 25, 2024 (Akoto: 1 lecture)

IGFIA Advanced Feed Manufacturing & Mill Management Short Course – Southeast Asia Feed Industry Team. USGBC and USSEC South East Asia Region, Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Iowa Soybean Association, July 7-11, 2025 (Akoto: 1 lecture, 2 hands-on training).

IGFIA Advanced Feed Manufacturing & Mill Management Short Course – Tunisia Feed Industry Train-the-Trainer Team. USGBC Middle East & Africa Region, August 18-23, 2025  (Akoto: 1 lecture, 6 hands-on training).

Sectional Meeting, GRI GEAPS, Iowa State University Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex (U.S.), December 3, 2025 (Akoto: 1 lecture)

Liu S, Perez-Donado CE, Rose DJ. 2025. Impact of ferulic and vanillic acids on soluble and insoluble dietary fiber utilization from maize bran by the human gut microbiota. Food & Function 16:5409-5420.

Ibrahim, S. S.; Gondhalekar, A.D.; Ristroph, K.; Baributsa, D. Geranium Oil Nanoemulsion Delivers More Potent and Persistent Fumigant Control of Callosobruchus maculatus in Stored Grain. Foods 2025, 14(20), 3514; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14203514

Li, W.; Yaninek, J.S.; Baributsa, D. Hand Warmer-Induced Hypoxia Accelerates Pest Control in Hermetic Storage. Insects 2024, 15, 821. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100821

Li, W.; Baributsa, D. Scaling Oxygen Scavengers in Hermetic Bags for Improved Grain Storage. Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 2865; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072865

Li, W.; Yaninek, J.S.; Ambrose, K.; Baributsa, D. Hand Warmers: A Cost-Effective Solution to Accelerate Oxygen Depletion During Hermetic Storage. Foods 2025, 14(4), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14040548

Olenloa. A. E., and K.E. Ileleji. 2025. Adoption and challenges of stored grain monitoring technologies by farmers and grain elevators. Prepared for submission to Journal of Stored Products Research.

Olenloa. A. E., and K.E. Ileleji. 2025. An approach to tracking corn quality loss and financial value during storage; model development and application. Journal of Cereal Science. Prepared for submission.

Olenloa. A. E., A. Raturi, and K.E. Ileleji. 2025. Development of a decision-support framework for stored grain management systems. Journal of Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. Prepared for submission.

Analysis of vitamin D in pet food and animal feed via PTAD derivatization and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. 2025. Jesse Sandoval. MS Thesis. Texas A&M University.

Ouzar, A., Goutomo, B.T., Lee, K.M., and Kim, I.-K. 2025. Enhanced degradation of different tetracyclines by nonthermal plasma and activated persulfate: Insights into synergistic effects and degradation mechanism. Separations. 12:222.

Li, D., Jia, Y., Wu, X., Bean, S.R., and Shi, Y.-C. 2025. Morphology, composition and structure of starches during sorghum seed development. Cereal Chem. 102:256-265. https://doi.org/10.1002/cche.10875

Yerka, M.K., Liu, Z., Bean, S., Nigam, D., Hayes, C., Druetto, D., Krishnamoorthy, G., Fangman, S., Cucit, G., Atim, J., and Jiao, Y. 2025. An updated molecular toolkit for genomics-assisted breeding of waxy sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. J. Applied Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-025-00993-1

Dhiman, P., Soumen, S., Nigam, D., Bean, S.R., Wu, X., Xin, Z., Patil, G.B., and Jiao, Y. 2025. Effects of a novel loss-of-function waxy endosperm allele on sorghum seed development and grain quality. G3 Genes/Genomics/Genetics 15:jkaf177. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journaGenl/jkaf177

Bakshi, A., Pramanik, S., Caragea, D., Somayanda, I., Kumar, R., Bean, S.R., Emendak, Y., Hayes, C., and Jagadish, K. 2025. Sorghum-grain-count: A large image dataset and benchmark for sorghum grain count estimation. Smart Agricultural Technology. 101218 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101218

Zhou, J., Li, Y., Bean, S.R., Armstrong, P., and Wu, X. 2025. Rapid and nondestructive prediction of total starch and amylose contents in single sorghum kernels (SSK) based on NIR spectroscopy. Carbohydrate Polymers 368. 124257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124257

Ostmeyer, T.J., Saini, D.K., Impa, S.M., Peiris, K.H.S., Bean, S.R., Ritchie, G., Hayes, C., Bean, B., and Jagadish, S.V.K. 2025. Impacts of irrigation and N management on yield, protein, and amino acid composition in grain sorghum. Cereal Chem. 102: 866-879. https://doi.org/10.1002/cche.70004

Pulivarthi, M.J., Rajpurohit, B., Chakraborty, S., Li, Y., Bean, S.R., and Siliveru, K. 2025. Comparative analysis of dry and wet fractionated red lentil proteins for food applications. Sustainable Food Proteins. 3:e70030. https://doi.org/10.1002/sfp2.70030

Brabec, D., Grothe, S., Zhao, K., Neilsen, M., Bean, S.R., Baker, N., and Yeater, K. 2025. Volume and density measurements of single sorghum grain versus sample test weight. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 41:587-592. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.16397

Huang, Y., Wu, X., Bean, S.R., and Shi, Y-C. 2025. Comparison of three methods to isolate starch from waxy sorghum grains. Cereal Chem. 102: 1047-1058. https://doi.org/10.1002/cche.70017

Li, D., Wu, X., Bean, S.R., and Shi, Y.-C. 2025. Comparing the amylose content of sorghum starches and flours measured by four different methods and understanding the differences between the methods. Carbohydrate Polymers. 375:124741 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124741

Objective 2 Publications

Oral/Poster Presentations (Amofah). Development and Testing of Inline Temperature and Moisture Content Measurement of Feed Mash for Thermal Processing Control. ABE 6010 Graduate Seminar—Three-Minute Graduate Research Oral Presentation, December 8, 2025. Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

Article/News briefs/Reports

George Obeng-Akrofi, Younus Bhuiyan Sabbir and Dirk Maier. 2025. Grain Ops: Feed value of corn screenings. World Grain Magazine. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/21962-grain-ops-feed-value-of-corn-screenings

Younus Bhuiyan Sabbir and Dirk Maier. 2025. Feed Ops: Feed value of corn screenings. World Grain Magazine. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/22214-feed-ops-coring-grain-mass-benefits-feed-mills?oly_enc_id=4236G1872612E8Y

Continuing Education Offerings

Aqua Feed Manufacturing Training Program – Morocco Aqua Industry Team. U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council (USGBC), March 10-12, 2025 (Sabbir: 1 lecture; 1 hands-on session)

IGFIA Advanced Feed Manufacturing & Mill Management Short Course – Southeast Asia Feed Industry Team. USGBC and USSEC South East Asia Region, Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Iowa Soybean Association, July 7-11, 2025 (Sabbir: 1 lecture; 1 hands-on session)

IGFIA Advanced Feed Manufacturing & Mill Management Short Course – Tunisia Feed Industry Train-the-Trainer Team. USGBC Middle East & Africa Region, August 18-23, 2025 (Sabbir: 1 lecture; 2 hands-on sessions)

Oral/Poster Presentations

Sabbir, A.S.M.Y.B., Maier, D.E., Assessment and Approaches for Achieving Net-Zero Carbon Emissions for Grain Drying, Handling and Storage Operations. NC-213 Annual Meeting 2025, Kansas City, Missouri, February 27-28, 2025. (Sabbir: Oral presentation, Poster presentation)

Sabbir, A.S.M.Y.B., Maier, D.E., Benefit of Coring on moving cooling front. GRI GEAPS Chapter meeting, December 3rd, 2025. (Sabbir: Presenter)

Peer-reviewed publications

Obeng-Akrofi, G., Maier, D.E., Rosentrater, K.A., Brumm, T.J., Akowuah, J.O. 2025. Evaluation of Moisture Sorption Isotherm for Shea Nuts, Vitellaria Paradoxa. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 41 (2), 169-178. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.16087 

Nishimwe, K., Bowers, E., Maier, D.E. 2025. On-farm evaluation of aflatoxin binder inclusion in dairy feed as a strategy to reduce milk aflatoxin M1 contamination in the Rwandan context. Mycotoxin Research 41 (1), 207-214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-024-00576-9 

Article/News briefs/Reports

Alexis Lambros, George Obeng-Akrofi and Dirk Maier. 2025. Feed Ops: Importance of steam conditioning. World Grain Magazine. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/21814-feed-ops-importance-of-steam-conditioning

George Obeng-Akrofi, Younus Bhuiyan Sabbir and Dirk Maier. 2025. Grain Ops: Feed value of corn screenings. World Grain Magazine. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/21962-grain-ops-feed-value-of-corn-screenings

Younus Bhuiyan Sabbir and Dirk Maier. 2025. Feed Ops: Feed value of corn screenings. World Grain Magazine. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/22214-feed-ops-coring-grain-mass-benefits-feed-mills?oly_enc_id=4236G1872612E8Y

Continuing Education Offerings

Aqua Feed Manufacturing Training Program – Morocco Aqua Industry Team. U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council (USGBC), March 10-12, 2025 (3 lectures)

Feed Manufacturing Training Program – Full-Fat Soybean Meal Team. U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Iowa Soybean Association, March 25, 2025 (1 lecture; 1 tour)

IGFIA Advanced Feed Manufacturing & Mill Management Short Course – Southeast Asia Feed Industry Team. USGBC and USSEC South East Asia Region, Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Iowa Soybean Association, July 7-11, 2025 (6 lectures)

IGFIA Advanced Feed Manufacturing & Mill Management Short Course – Tunisia Feed Industry Train-the-Trainer Team. USGBC Middle East & Africa Region, August 18-23, 2025 (5 lectures)

Oral Presentations

Advancing Feed Technology and Operational Efficiency with Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics; Advanced Storage Practices for Preserving Grains and Feed Ingredients in Humid Climates. U.S. Grains Council Corn Quality Program, Istanbul, Turkiye, January 23-24, 2025 (2 lectures)

Advanced Storage Practices for Preserving Grains and Feed Ingredients in Humid Climates. U.S. Grains Council Feed Mill Audits, Barranquilla and Buga, Colombia, February 18-20, 2025 (2 lectures)

Advancing Feed Technology with Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics; Best Practices for Ingredient Handling and Quality Preservation. U.S. Soybean Export Council 12th Maghreb Round Table for the Poultry and Feed Industry, Tunis, Tunisia, June 3-4, 2025 (Maier: 2 lectures)

Innovation in Maintaining Quality and Quantity of Stored Corn and Co-Products; Best Practices for Ingredient Handling and Quality Preservation; Processing U.S. Sorghum for Feed. U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council Saudi Arabia Corn and Co-Products Promotion Workshop, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, September 16, 2025 (3 lectures)

Oral/Poster Presentations (Kusi Fordjour):

Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) of Grain-to-Screw Conveyor Interaction. ABE 6010 Graduate Seminar—Three-Minute Graduate Research Oral Presentation, December 8, 2025. Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

Stewart, S., Chalamalasetti, S., Ruiz-Llacsahuanga, B., Critzer, F., Bhullar, M., Nwadike, L., Yucel, U., & Trinetta, V. (2025). The effect of commercial sanitizers on Listeria monocytogenes (planktonic and biofilm forms) experimentally inoculated materials commonly used during tree-fruit harvesting. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 78(4), ovaf056. https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovaf056

Ramadan, G. R. M. Hegazi, Y. H., Shawir, M. S., Badawy, M. E. I., Phillips, T. W. and Abo-El-Saad, M. M.  2025. Sorption, desorption, and residue analysis of the fumigant ethyl formate in date fruits using cooled methanol extraction and GC-MS. J. Stored Prod. Res.  111: 102450.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2024.102540

Norton, A., Cohnstaedt, L. W., Whitworth, J., Xu, X. and Phillips, T. W.  2025.  Repurposing chicken eggshells, Gallus gallus domesticus, as nanoparticles to manage red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum.  J. Stored. Prod. Res. 113: 102694.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2025.102694

Hubhachen, Z., Cato, A., Afful, E., Nayak, M. and Phillips. T. W. 2025. Geographic distribution of phosphine persistence and frequency of resistance genes in two specie of grain beetles, Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica, in North America. Insects. 16, 749.  https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16080749

Toth, M., Aldrich, C. G., and Phillips, T. W. 2025. Potential for using beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) as model organisms to determine nutrient bioavailability for companion animal foods: A pilot study.  Animals. 15, 2630. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15172630

Settipalli, H. R., S. Chakraborty, Bh. Subramanyam, and K. Siliveru. 2026. Thermal, non-thermal, and non-fumigant technologies for disinfestation of Callosobruchus species in stored pulses. Journal of Stored Products Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2025.102897

Pordesimo, L. O., M. E. Casada, M. C. Petingco, and K. Siliveru. 2025. Phosphine distribution patterns during fumigation of binned wheat. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.16200

Balyatanda, S. B., S. Chakraborty, Bh. Subramanyam, and K. Siliveru. 2025. Aqueous chlorine dioxide mediated tempering of wheat grains: Evaluation of tempering potential, kinetics, and mechanism of Salmonella inactivation. Food Research International. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2025.117902

Chakraborty, S., H. R. Settipalli, Bh. Subramanyam, and K. Siliveru. 2026. Atmospheric cold plasma exposure of cowpea weevils: mortality kinetics of various life stages. Journal of Stored Products Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2025.102878

Barretto, R., M. E. Casada, R. M. Buenavista, and K. Siliveru. 2025. Repeated transfers of soybeans in pilot scale bucket elevator legs: effects on dust particle size distribution and shape characteristics. Journal of the ASABE. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/ja.16358

Presentations

Shivaprasad D. P.  J. L Rivera, S. Chakraborty, and K. Siliveru. 2025. Effectiveness of intense pulsed light, cold plasma, and UV radiation in reducing Salmonella contamination on wheat grains: a comparative analysis. International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio. July 26-29. (Poster)

Rivera, J. L., D. P. Shivaprasad, S. Chakraborty, and K. Siliveru. 2025. Synergistic effects of UV-C and acidic water tempering against pathogenic E.coli on hard red winter wheat (HRW) grains. International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio. July 26-29. (Poster)

Shivaprasad D. P., J. L Rivera,  S. Chakraborty, and K. Siliveru. 2025. Harnessing cold plasma for Salmonella reduction in pizza dough: a hurdle technology approach. IFT First Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, July 13-16. (Poster)

Shivaprasad D. P., J. L Rivera, and K. Siliveru. 2025. Tracking E.coli transfer and persistence in milling fractions and equipment during laboratory-scale roller milling. 3A Hygiene Design Conference, Chicago, IL, May 5-8. (Oral)

Uysal U, Boyle D, Critzer F, Trinetta V, Yucel U. 2025. Analysis of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on different surfaces using ATR-FTIR microspectroscopy and GC-MS. Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) FIRST Annual Meeting & Expo, Chicago, IL (July 13-16, 2025). Technical Presentation. - First place in the Food Chemistry Division student research competition

Uysal U, Smith M, Amama, PB, Yucel U. 2025. Enhanced photocatalytic removal of pesticide imidacloprid from freshwater using C-doped TiO2. K-State HHS RSCAD Forum, Manhattan, KS (March 7, 2025). Technical Presentation.

Deniz A, Critzer F, Boyle DL, Lacasa J, Yucel U, Trinetta V. 2025. Formation and control of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on various food processing surfaces. K-State Graduate Research, Arts, and Discovery (K-GRAD) Forum, Manhattan, KS (April, 2025). Technical Presentation.

Deniz A, Critzer F, Boyle DL, Lacasa J, Yucel U, Trinetta V. 2025. Formation and control of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on various food processing surfaces. K-State HHS RSCAD Forum, Manhattan, KS (March 7, 2025). Technical Presentation.**

López V, Lacasa J, Yucel U, Aramouni F, Trinetta V. 2025. Effect of grain varieties and microbial cultures on solid-state fermentation of grain sorghum. International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting, Cleveland, OH (July 27-30, 2025). Technical Presentation.

Appolon C, Ruiz-Llacsahuanga B, Widmer A, Mmaduabuchi O, Raad R, Pirverdiyeva A, Bhullar M, Yucel U, Trinetta V, Dunn L, Critzer F. 2025. Exploring the synergistic efficacy of lactic acid or peracetic acid and UV-C in the inactivation of Salmonella on soiled food contact surface materials. International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting, Cleveland, OH (July 27-30, 2025). Technical Presentation.

Galipothu VK, Trinetta V, Nwadike L, Jaberi-Douraki M, Bhullar MS. 2025. UV-C disinfection tunnel as a tool in controlling Listeria on food contact surfaces. International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting, Cleveland, OH (July 27-30, 2025). Technical Presentation.

Allison G, Deniz A, Zelaya J, Phebus R, Yucel U, Drolia R, Critzer F, Trinetta V. 2025. Evaluation of the effectiveness of commonly used sanitation strategies against dual-species biofilms of Listeria monocytogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens in the food industry. International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting, Cleveland, OH (July 27-30, 2025). Technical Presentation.

Igwe, V., Smith, D., Mensah, C., & Swackhamer, C. (2025). Synergistic Enhancement of Corn Insoluble Dietary Fiber via Combined Radiofrequency Heating and Enzymatic Hydrolysis: Fermentability and Short‐Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) Production. Journal of Food Science, 90(10), e70548

Igwe, V., & Smith, D. (2025). Enhanced Hydration, Solubility, and Structural Properties of Corn Insoluble Dietary Fiber via Optimized Radiofrequency and Enzymatic Hydrolysis. Journal of Food Science, 90(7), e70318.

Gaither, D., Raza, M. M. S., & Issa, S. F. (2025). Evaluating the effectiveness of five nozzles in breaking out‑of‑condition grain clumps. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 31(3), 257–268.

Gaither, D., Raza, M. M. S., & Issa, S. F. (2025). Evaluating the effectiveness of five nozzles in breaking out‑of‑condition grain clumps. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 31(3), 269–282.

Educational Products

Saving Lives in Grain: Research and Strategies for Grain Entrapment Prevention. https://grainsafety.web.illinois.edu/

Saving Lives in Grain: Using High‑Pressure Compressed Air to Remove Out‑of‑Condition Grain. https://grainsafety.web.illinois.edu/

Gerken, A.R., Scott, R.L., Khosla, S., Markley, A., Mueller, C., Scheff, D.S. 2025. Impacts of food, temperature, and humidity on recovery in Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) after exposure to a contact pyrethroid insecticide. Journal of Insect Science, 25(2), 4. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieaf021

Scheff, D.S., Mueller, C., Delaney, A., Morrison, W.R. 2026. Insecticidal effect of deltamethrin, pyrethrin, and spinosad on metal and concrete surfaces on six species of stored product insects. Journal of Stored Products Research 116, 102902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2025.102902

Oral Presentation

The 2nd International Electronic Conference on Entomology, Virtual, May 19-21, 2025.

Objective 3 Objectives

Peer-reviewed publications

Obeng-Akrofi, G., D.E. Maier, K.A. Rosentrater, T.J. Brumm, and J.O. Akowuah. 2025. Evaluation of Moisture Sorption Isotherm for Shea Nuts, Vitellaria Paradoxa. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 41:169-178.

Article/News briefs/Reports

Alexis Lambros, George Obeng-Akrofi and Dirk Maier. 2025. Feed Ops: Importance of steam conditioning. World Grain Magazine. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/21814-feed-ops-importance-of-steam-conditioning

George Obeng-Akrofi, Younus Bhuiyan Sabbir and Dirk Maier. 2025. Grain Ops: Feed value of corn screenings.

World Grain Magazine. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/21962-grain-ops-feed-value-of-corn-screenings

Oral Presentations (Obeng-Akrofi)

Artificial Intelligence in Feed Manufacturing. AFIA Feed Education Program. IPPE, January 25, 2025. Atlanta, GA (Invited guest speaker)

Aqua Feed Manufacturing Training Program – Morocco Aqua Industry Team. U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council (USGBC), March 10-12, 2025 (1 tour; 4 hands-on sessions)

Feed Manufacturing Training Program – Full-Fat Soybean Meal Team. U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Iowa Soybean Association, March 25, 2025 (1 lecture; 1 tour)

Swine Nutrition and Feeding Workshop – Mexico Swine Producers Team. USGBC Mexico Office and Iowa Swine Industry Center, June 3, 2025 (1 lecture)

IGFIA Advanced Feed Manufacturing & Mill Management Short Course – Southeast Asia Feed Industry Team. USGBC and USSEC South East Asia Region, Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Iowa Soybean Association, July 7-11, 2025 (2 lectures; 7 hands-on sessions)

IGFIA Advanced Feed Manufacturing & Mill Management Short Course – Tunisia Feed Industry Train-the-Trainer Team. USGBC Middle East & Africa Region, August 18-23, 2025 (1 lecture; 9 hands-on sessions)

Anto Pradeep Raja Charles, Bingcan Chen, Jiajia Rao* (2025). Cannabidiol (CBD) as an emerging nutraceutical ingredient from industrial hemp: regulation, production, extraction, nutraceutical properties, and functionality. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 65,28, 6030–6052.

Raja, C. A. P.; Fang, B.; Ohm, J.-B.; Chen, B.; Rao, J.* Novel high internal phase emulsion gels stabilized solely by hemp protein isolate: Enhancement of cannabidiol chemical stability and bioaccessibility. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2024, 279(Part 3), 135395.

Fang, B.; Peng, Z.; Chen, B.; Rao, J.* Hemp protein isolate–based natural thermal-reversible hydrogel as a novel wound dressing material. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2024, 16(39), 51916–51931.

Raja, C. A. P.; Chen, B.; Rao, J.* Cannabidiol (CBD) as an emerging nutraceutical ingredient from industrial hemp: Regulation, production, extraction, nutraceutical properties, and functionality. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2025, 65(28), 6030–6052.

Halder, T.; Bhoite, R.; Islam, S.; Yan, G.; Siddiqui, M. N.; Kayess, M. O.; Siddique, K. H. M. Proteomics in allopolyploid crops: Stress resilience, challenges, and prospects. Proteomes 2025, 13(4), 60.

Islam, M. A.; Kulathunga, J.; Zhao, Y.; Islam, S.* Functional potential of intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) in bread formulations: Role of base flour gluten strength. Applied Food Research 2025, 5(2), 101246.

Kulathunga, J.; Islam, S.* Wheat arabinoxylans: Insight into structure–function relationships. Carbohydrate Polymers 2025, 348(B), 122933.

Sun, T.; Xu, M.; Jin, Z.* Grain geometry matters: Hyperspectral imaging challenges for moisture detection in individual kernels of barley. Journal of Cereal Science 2025, Article 104352.

Sharmin, S. Relationship among the physical grain characteristics and milling qualities of durum wheat genotypes grown in North Dakota. Ph.D. Dissertation, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 2025; ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Baidhe, E., Clementson, C., Hellevang, K and Z. Lin. 2025. Optimization of High-Temperature Drying Conditions for Enhanced Quality of High-Moisture Corn. Smart Agricultural Technology 12 (2025 101271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101271

Igathinathane, C. and C. Clementson. 2025. Assessing the intrapore volume and surface area of single corn kernel using CT scan imaging and machine vision. Smart Agricultural Technology 12(2025) 101231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101231 

Baidhe, E., Clementson, C., Hellevang, K and Z. Lin. 2025. Comprehensive analysis of drying kinetics, heat and mass transfer, and thermodynamic properties in high-temperature drying of high-moisture corn. Journal of Food Process Engineering, 2025;48(6):e70159. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpe.70159

Baidhe, E., Clementson, C. and E. Monono. 2025. Comparison of machine learning models with models based on proximate composition and moisture content for the prediction of thermal properties of corn. Journal of Food Process Engineering, 2025;48:e70153. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpe.70153

Baidhe, E. and C. Clementson. 2025. Modeling Rupture and Relaxation characteristics of soybean under compressive loading. Biosystems Engineering 254(June 2025)104137; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2025.104137

Ssernjugoi, M. and Ambrose, R. P. K. 2026. ExpDustNet: A hybrid deep learning model for real time prediction of suspended explosive dust particle concentration. Powder Technology (in review).

Edleman, D.; Welsh, K.; Sweet, L.; Murai, T.; Annor, G.A. Impact of germination time and temperature on starch viscosity properties and chemical composition of intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). Journal of Cereal Science 122 (2025) 104129.

Oliveira, W.S.; Chen, Q.; Edleman, D.; Annor, G.A.; Dias, F.F.G. Unraveling the Impacts of Germination on the Volatile and Fatty Acid Profile of Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) Seeds. Molecules 2024, 29, 4268.

Murai, T.; Annor, G.A. Improving the Nutritional Profile of Intermediate Wheatgrass by Solid-State Fermentation with Aspergillus oryzae Strains. Foods 2025, 14, 395.