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by Joe Cornely (This article was published in 2005.)

Studying the biological conversion of waste into energy will be the purpose of a new facility on the campus of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) at Wooster. The facility will be funded by a $1.5 million dollar Third Frontier grant from the state of Ohio and $1.7 million in federal matching funds.

Gov. Bob Taft announced the grant following a tour of OARDC. He said the grant will benefit agribusiness and the research project "has great potential to help clean the environment, cut energy costs for Ohio industries and secure jobs in the state." Ohio State University officials cited U.S. Representative Ralph Regula for acquiring the federal matching funds.

The new bio-energy research facility will be one of the first to demonstrate a full-scale system of using biomass to provide energy to fuel cells, according to Floyd Schanbacher who is with OARDC’s department of animal sciences. "It can open a whole host of energy generation opportunities not currently available, applicable to both small and large industrial operations as well as for world markets," he said. One study already being conducted by OARDC is at the Wooster plant of Frito-Lay where unusable chips and wastewater are being converted into methane. The project could save the plant nearly $300,000 currently spent in waste disposal and generate 20 percent of its energy needs, according to Frito-Lay engineers.

Gov. Taft recognized OARDC for aligning its work with the needs of Ohio. OARDC director Steve Slack said, "OARDC is continually finding new ways to blend scientific advances to address the agricultural and environmental issues such that they benefit our economy and improve the quality of life for Ohioans and people around the world. The money we receive from Third Frontier is critical to turning our ideas into reality."

Gov. Taft unveiled the Third Frontier project in 2002. It is a 10-year, $1.1 billion initiative to expand high-tech research capabilities, promote innovation, encourage business development and create high-paying jobs. To date, the technology-based economic development effort has awarded more that $235 million to Ohio companies, universities and research organizations.

Ohio Farm Bureau has worked closely with both the Taft administration and Ohio State to secure funding for agricultural research. The organization believes that advanced technology and agriculture are compatible and complementary endeavors that together can benefit all Ohioans.

During his visit to OARDC Gov. Taft also heard presentations about the center’s work on soybean diseases (such as Asian Rust), the relationship between tomato breeding and fighting cancer, the prevention of emerging animal and human infectious diseases, high-revenue exports, new food products and meshing environmental protection with economic growth.