By Joan Olson

Editor’s note: As a service to our readers, we provide news about the work of others in the ag utilization arena. Often, research done elsewhere complements AURI’s work. (Please note that ARS is the research arm of the USDA.)

Staking a claim on your heart

Heart disease may be fought with soy protein, according to a new health claim allowed by the FDA. American Soybean Association President Mike Yost says “approval by FDA ... will have consumers around the world seeking foods labeled to contain soy protein.” The FDA claim says 25 grams of soy protein included in a daily diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Source: American Soybean Association, 800-688-7692.

Energy-boosting yeast

A tiny one-celled organism may provide drivers with inexpensive, clean-burning fuel and farmers with a new market for crop residues.

A genetically engineered yeast, developed at Purdue’s Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, can produce at least 30 percent more ethanol from plant material than any other yeast organism. The yeast can ferment both glucose and xylose plant sugars into ethanol, making it an efficient converter of ag and organic wastes as well as food crops.

Ethanol from beet pulp

Central Michigan University has received a $14,000 matching grant to conduct research on ethanol production from sugar beet pulp. The research will look at the amount of ethanol that can be produced from pulp supplied by Monitor Sugar Company in Bay City.

Leaves for life

Leaf Nutrient, Inc., a charitable organization, has enabled people in more than 100 Mexican villages to extract protein from local alfalfa. The rural villagers add the extract to tortillas, pasta, cakes and other foods they customarily prepare.

Adding just one tablespoon of alfalfa juice concentrate a day to their food helps children develop normally and decreases their susceptibility to communicable diseases. Within weeks, children who regularly get supplemental alfalfa protein are noticeably more alert and begin to perform better in school.

In France, a company processes food-grade alfalfa protein for the baking industry as a substitute for casein and egg white. In the United States, the Alfalfa New Products Initiative is looking into the possibilities of commercializing alfalfa for human consumption.

Source: The Furrow magazine

Veggie hydraulics

ARS scientists in Peoria, Ill. have made a hydraulic fluid that contains estolides from oilseeds such as high-oleic soybean, sunflower and safflower. Caterpillar is testing the new biodegradable hydraulic fluid in cooperation with ARS and Lambent Technologies of Chicago. A provisional patent has been filed on this product.

More than 10 percent of hydraulic fluids and other industrial lubricants made from synthetic and petroleum-derived oils could be replaced with vegetable-derived oils. Estolides also have applications in textiles, detergents, personal care and pharmaceutical products.

Bean lights up the night

Last year, soybean crayons made their debut at the Farm Progress Show; this year, it was soybean candles. The candle idea came from a contest sponsored at Purdue University, where students suggested birthday candles. The Indiana Soybean Board developed votive candles instead. Trademarked as “Harvest Lights,” more than $20,000 of the soybean candles were sold at this year’s Farm Progress Show.

Orders can be placed by calling Indiana Soybean Growers Association’s toll-free number, 1-888-326-4458.

Soybeans, all the live-long day

Heavy lobbying by the Illinois Soybean Association and the Illinois Dietetic Association has convinced the Illinois Department of Public Health to propose that soybean protein be included on long-term care facility menus.

With the senior population expected to increase rapidly in the next 30 years, including soy foods in long-term care could mean a significant increase in soy product consumption.

De-icing Indiana

The Indiana Department of Transportation is pleased with a new corn product they used this winter to keep ice off roads. “Ice Ban” proved more effective and had longer-lasting effects compared to the magnesium chloride they typically use.

Officials reported fewer traffic accidents around snow and ice conditions compared to previous years when magnesium chloride was used. Ice Ban, produced by the Minnesota Corn Processors, reduces salt and sand applications by as much as 50 percent. The product improves melting capacity and reduces equipment damage from salt corrosion.

Odor power

Could swine stink power the equipment that gets rid of it? A Southern Illinois University chemical engineer has received a grant to develop an inexpensive catalytic reactor to cut swine-barn odor. Similar to catalytic conversion in cars, the reaction would produce carbon dioxide and water, both odorless and non-toxic.

Catalytic reactions take place at high temperatures, generally utilizing gas or electric heat. In this case, scientists want to recycle the heat generated when the equipment oxidizes a stinky compound called para-cresol. That would keep power costs down for farmers.

Source: Tom Abbott, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, (309) 681-6306.