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Third Frontier Project showing results for the agriculture sector

By Natalie Walston

A search on the Internet of Gov. Bob Taft's Third Frontier Project and agriculture returns numerous headlines, such as "Gov. Taft Awards $1.5 Million Third Frontier Grant to OARDC For Innovative Energy-generation Project" and "Ohio State Receives $11.6 Million Third Frontier Award To Turn Crops Into Industrial Products."

Last year, voters approved State Issue 1, known as the Third Frontier Project, which dedicated $1.6 billion to science and research initiatives across the state. The Governor’s office, along with leading scientists and researchers in the area of biosciences recently met at Plastic Suppliers, Inc. in Columbus with Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) staff and agricultural media to explain what’s been happening with money from the project.

Examples of what's been happening with the millions of dollars dedicated to bioscience research include corn being used to make shrink-wrap for packages; OFBF is using kettle corn bags made from corn for its "Our Ohio" campaign. The bags are made by Plastic Suppliers, Inc.

But there is so much more going on in laboratories than what the average person might know about, bridging Ohio's agricultural output of $79.6 billion and Ohio's $49 billion chemicals, plastics and rubber materials output. And researchers are developing chemical conversion technologies to make lubricants and adhesives from raw materials grown in the state.

"We're in a new age, similar to the time at the beginning of the last century when petroleum emerged," said Stephen Myers, director of the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center at Ohio State University. "With increasing world demand for renewable resources in the coming decades, we have to seize the opportunity by linking the ag and polymer industry sectors."

Myers said products such as computers and tires can now be made from bio-based products to reduce the United States’ dependency on petroleum. The Japanese are using plant starch-based plastic to make computers. He said tires are made up of 10 to 15 percent oil; some companies are making tires made out of canola oil from plants. Canola oil is also used in Europe to fuel diesel engines.

"In Ohio, we already have all the pieces for success -- the farmers, the storage facilities and the processing facilities. We just have to add the chemical refinery side," he said, adding that biosciences can attract younger people into the agriculture/polymer industry.

Heritage Fare, LTD, based in Cleveland, manufactures easy-to-prepare specialty food products.

The company has an exclusive patent for its new nutritional fat replacement and flavor enhancement product made from starch oil from soybeans. Its primary use is as a partial replacement for animal fat in beef patties, meatloaf, Salisbury steak and other normally high-fat meat products. The company said the finished product is moister, more tender and more flavorful, not to mention one pound of the starch oil replaces one pound of animal fat.

"Researchers are also working to create tasteful, healthier foods for school lunches," said David Beck, program director for the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT) in Toledo, which has received funding from the Third Frontier Project. It’s helping companies such as Heritage Fare develop innovative technologies with food. It’s mission is to help members of the agribusiness sector improve their competitive position through the development and adaptation of emerging technologies, industry best practices and novel business approaches.

Another innovation from CIFT is using technology to sterilize an egg in its shell as the federal government pushes to make all eggs pathogen free.

"We'll have the first units (sterilized in this manner) out in a couple of years," Beck said, "giving Ohio egg producers a huge competitive advantage."

Beck said another CIFT initiative involves turning a variety of waste products into energy. A national initiative known as 25x25 calls for having America's farms, forests and ranches provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States while continuing to produce safe, abundant and affordable food, feed and fiber.

Ohio's Third Frontier funding is helping with innovations in alternative energy.

"CIFT is working with local companies such as Campbell Soup to turn their waste products from the factory into energy," Beck said.

Furthermore, an increasing number of farmers are learning to use animal manure to create energy. The Rural Income Enhancement Program through CIFT helps farmers make energy and offers grant writing assistance.

The Wright Project, also created from the Third Frontier project, is helping to advance the conversion of biomass for commercial electrical energy needs.

There are a number of state-funded centers and initiatives that are helping move Ohio from a manufacturing-based economy into a more dynamic economy based on research and innovation.

Other exciting research includes using organic polymer resins made from naturally grown products to make an affordable, durable leather substitute for car interiors.

Polymer products created by soy and corn oil are used in nanotechnology – which involves studying and working with matter on a very small scale – to make stronger yet lighter components.

"It could be possible to make farm machinery from these materials for a longer life and less corrosion," said Sharell Mikesell, executive director of the Ohio Polymer Strategy Council.

Since many organic polymer-based products are still in the research phase, one can expect to see a lot more products in the future.

"We're in a space race with other states and countries to create new technologies," said Norm Chagnon, staff director for the Third Frontier Commission.

And, according to OSU's Myers, the United States has the potential to create excitement for a new age of entrepreneurship and vitality across the ag and polymer industry sectors.

Caption: The shrink-wrap on these candles is made from corn. Photo courtesy Plastic Suppliers Inc.