Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World October 2008

Celebrating a Century of Tractor Development

PUBLISHED BY ASABE – AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERS Targeted access to 9,000 international agricultural & biological engineers

Ray Goodwin

(800) 369-6220, ext. 3459

BIOH0308Filler.indd 1 7/24/08 9:15:05 PM FEATURES COVER STORY 5 Celebrating a Century of Tractor Development Carroll Goering Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World October 2008 Plowing down memory lane: a top-six list of tractor changes over the last century with emphasis on those that transformed agriculture. Vol. 15, No. 7, ISSN 1076-3333 7 Adding Value to Poultry Litter Using ASABE President Jim Dooley, Forest Concepts, LLC Transportable Pyrolysis ASABE Executive Director M. Melissa Moore Foster A. Agblevor ASABE Staff “This technology will not only solve waste disposal and water pollution Publisher Donna Hull problems, it will also convert a potential waste to high-value products such as Managing Editor Sue Mitrovich energy and fertilizer.” Consultants Listings Sandy Rutter Professional Opportunities Listings Melissa Miller ENERGY ISSUES, FOURTH IN THE SERIES ASABE Editorial Board Chair Suranjan Panigrahi, North Dakota State University 9 Renewable Energy Gains Global Momentum Secretary/Vice Chair Rafael Garcia, USDA-ARS James R. Fischer, Gale A. Buchanan, Ray Orbach, Reno L. Harnish III, Past Chair Edward Martin, University of Arizona and Puru Jena Board Members Wayne Coates, University of Arizona; WIREC 2008 brought together world leaders in the fi eld of renewable energy Jeremiah Davis, Mississippi State University; from 125 countries to address the market adoption and scale-up of renewable Donald Edwards, retired; Mark Riley, University of Arizona; Brian Steward, Iowa State University; energy technologies. Alan VanNahmen, Farm Buddy; Joseph Zulovich, University of Missouri 12 Research and Education Priorities in Send submissions, correspondence, Agriculture, Forestry, and Energy and address changes to Duane Acker Resource Working toward achieving the 25x’25 renewable energy vision, a recent paper 2950 Niles Road St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659 by the National 25x’25 Agriculture/Forestry Steering Committee provides an update. Publisher Tim McNichols FUTURE INTERESTS Editor Thea Galenes 14 Addressing Uncertainty Project Manager Ray Goodwin Marketing & Research Alex Scovil Mark Riley Advertising Sales Lou Brandow, Albert Quintero What distinguishes agricultural and biological engineering from other Design & Layout Sharlene MacCoy engineering disciplines? It is the great uncertainty that is inherent in biological Advertising Art Glenn Domingo systems and how we address it. For advertising information, please contact Ray Goodwin at (800) 369-6220. 17 Nanobiotechnology, Renewable Energy, Vol. 15, No. 7. Resource: Engineering & Technology for Sustainability, and the Future a Sustainable World is published eight times a year in Norman R. Scott February, April, May, June, July, September, October, “It is likely to be another century‚ let’s say the year 2100, before the full and November for the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers by Naylor, LLC, 5950 NW 1st potential of nanobiotechnology, renewable energy, and sustainability will be Place, Gainesville, FL 32607; (800) 369-6220; (352) 331- realized.” 3525 fax; www.naylor.com. Copyright 2008 by ASABE. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without written STUDENT INTERESTS authorization. Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World and ASABE assume no responsibility 21 Embracing Sustainable Development for contributors’ statements and opinions, which do not as a Profession necessarily represent the offi cial position of ASABE. Laura Christianson, Alok Bhandari, and Brian Steward Published October 2008/BIO-H0808/7656 “The time has never been more appropriate for agricultural and biological Postmaster: Send changes of address to: Resource, c/o engineers to play a leading role in problem solving on the global stage.” ASABE, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659 24 The TransAtlantic Precision Agriculture Consortium George Vellidis American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Too good to be true? An international exchange program that provided 2950 Niles Road American and European agricultural and biological engineering students St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659 opportunities to study abroad at absolutely no cost. (269) 429-0300 • (269) 429-3852 fax [email protected] • www.asabe.org

DEPARTMENTS ON THE COVER At the end of Carroll Goering’s history lesson: today’s 4 From the President powerful tractors. (Photos, from top left clockwise, 4 Events Calendar courtesy of Case IH, John Deere, AGCO Corp., and Kubota Tractor Corp.) 26 Update 28 Professional Opportunities 30 Professional Listings RESOURCE October 2008 3 31 Last Word FROM THE PPresidentresident “To the people who are engineering the future of our planet…”

ioenergy, food security, water production enterprises to regional farmers and processors. quality, and environmental resto- Such systems engineering has been a hallmark of agricultural ration are among the important engineers for all of the past century. The current installment Bsocietal objectives that ASABE from Jim Fischer et al. points out the importance of systems members work toward. We contribute our thinking when planning biofuels facilities to produce prof- competencies to teams that include a great itable co-products that optimize the system economics and many technical, scientifi c, and other disci- hold down the cost of liquid transportation biofuels. Norm plines. The core competencies of our members through the Scott, also a distinguished member of the National Academy decades are readily adapted by the nimble to current contexts of Engineering, throws out a challenge to ASABE members to and challenges. accelerate our intellectual and creative efforts to move emerging The cover story in this issue recounts a century of tractor technologies forward. development. From the earliest steam tractors of the mid-nine- Mark Riley reminds us that one of the things that separate teenth century to the most modern fl ex-fuel and low emissions our kind of engineers from most others is our ability to make tractors, agricultural engineers are core to tractor design teams. wise design choices and assess risks in situations with high It is unlikely that mechanical tractive power will be irrelevant uncertainty. As we embark on our second century, we daily in the next century. What are unknowns are the innovations in discover how little we know about the behavior of biological, materials, power sources, regulatory systems, and competitive ecological, and natural resource systems. I am reminded of a market forces that will infl uence future designs. However, I am lesson that my mentor, Bob Fridley, taught me more than 40 confi dent that our current and future members will be at the years ago. Bob described agricultural engineers of the time forefront of design teams. as “those engineers who carefully measure the properties of A set of stories addresses innovations and strategies in the a biomaterial, discover that the mean and standard deviation bioenergy arena. Collectively, these stories paint a powerful are equal, yet learn enough to make safe and effective decisions picture of the systems thinking that is critical to the practice about their design.” That lesson is still relevant today for our of our profession. Conversion of poultry waste to energy and agricultural, biological, food, and forest engineering members. fertilizer not only addresses waste disposal and environmental Jim Dooley, Forest Concepts, LLC risks, but also creates a systems opportunity to couple poultry [email protected]

EVENTS CCalendaralendar

ASABE ENDORSED EVENTS ASABE CONFERENCES AND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS 2009 To receive more information about ASABE conferences and meetings, call ASABE at (800) 371-2734 or e-mail Jan. 5-8 First Southeast Asia Soil and Water [email protected]. Assessment Tool (SWAT) Conference. Chiang Mai University, Thailand. www2.mcc.cmu. ac.th/swat/index.php. 2009 Jan. 5-9 Frutic Chile 2009: Eighth International Feb. 9-12 Agricultural Equipment Technology Symposium of Information and Technology Conference (AETC). for the Sustainable Production of Fruit and Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Vegetables, Nuts, Wines, and Olives. June 21-24 ASABE Annual International Meeting. Reno, Concepcion, Chile. www.fruitic09. Contact Nevada, USA. Stanley Best, [email protected]. June 22-24 World Congress of Computers in Agriculture June 17-19 XXXIII CIOSTA and CIGR V CONFERENCE. and Natural Resources Technology and management to ensure Reno, Nevada, USA. sustainable agriculture, agro-systems, forestry, and safety. Reggio Calabria, Italy. Contact Gennaro Giametta, [email protected]. Aug. 23-27 Second Farming Systems Design Symposium. Monterey, California, USA. Contact Jerry Hatfi eld, jerry.hatefi [email protected].

4 October 2008 RESOURCE Celebrating a Century of Tractor Development Carroll E. Goering

ntire books have been written on tractor 1925, experience in rice-producing states demonstrated the history. However, this feature’s scope covers in wisdom of linking PTO speed to engine speed rather than thumbnail only the last century—the epoch of ground speed. It allowed grain binders to run at full machine EASABE—and focuses on a top-six list of tractor speed but reduced travel speed to accommodate the heavy changes, with emphasis on those that also tended to crop. In 1926, ASAE adopted the fi rst PTO standard that transform agriculture. specifi ed the direction, speed, and size, shape, and location of the PTO shaft. Death knell of steam The PTO helped transform agriculture. It enabled Experiments with engines operations previously done at the farmstead to be done date back centuries, but James in the fi eld. In addition, the mechanical corn picker, an Watt patented the fi rst prac- enormous labor saver, only became practical after devel- tical steam engine in 1769. By opment of the PTO. 1858, J.W. Fawkes produced a steam tractor that pulled eight Row crop tractors plows at 4.8 km/h (3 mph) Early tractors were unsuited for row crop work. Until in virgin sod. 1924, farmers used animals for inter-row cultivation. Then By 1907, tractors IHC introduced Bert Benjamin’s (an agricultural engineer!) with internal combus- Farmall tractor. Its narrow front end and high rear axle tion (IC) engines clearance allowed for inter-row cultivation as well as appeared. Competition drawbar work. The Farmall started the demise of animal- between the two types powered agriculture, although some draft animal use of tractors was persisted through World War II. Eliminating draft animals fi erce and climaxed freed the 25 percent of farmland used to feed them and in tractor trials in made more land available for other uses, thus accelerating Winnipeg, Manitoba, the transition to an economy in which fewer people were Canada, 1908-1911, needed on farms. where the limita- Old steam tractor tions of steam tractors became apparent. After the Winnipeg trials, steam tractors rapidly gave way to tractors with IC engines. International Harvester Company (IHC) developed a closed-cycle steam tractor as late as 1924 but chose not to market it. Steam tractors required an oper- ating crew, but a tractor with an IC engine required only one operator. Thus, conversion to IC engines helped reduce manpower needs in agriculture.

Tractor PTO Experimental power take offs (PTOs) were tried as early as 1878. In 1920, the IHC 15-30 tractor was the fi rst tractor with a PTO to undergo a Nebraska tractor test. In Vintage red Farmall tractor

RESOURCE October 2008 5 Pneumatic tires MTA to take advantage of 70-octane gasoline. The The lugged steel wheels on early tractors limited travel low-volatility fuels faded in the 1950s. Gasoline was the speed. Heavy tractors were used to achieve high pull and dominant fuel after WWII, but it gave way to diesel in appreciable drawbar power. In 1932, Firestone Rubber the 1970s. LPG-fueled tractors enjoyed modest popu- Company fi tted an Allis Chalmers tractor with pneumatic larity for about 20 years following WWII. tires, and other tractor manufacturers were offering pneu- Diesel engines were initially too expensive for farm matic tires by 1933. By 1935, Nebraska tractor test data tractors, and starting was a problem. A small, gasoline- showed a sharp increase in average test speed as more powered “pony” motor was used to crank the diesel tractors had pneumatic tires. engine. Minneapolis-Moline introduced its Model U Higher travel speeds helped transform agriculture by diesel tractor in 1952. Diesels steadily gained market allowing farm size to grow. Barney Oldfi eld, a racecar share, and virtually all new tractors since 1976 have had driver, achieved publicity when he was ticketed for speeding diesel engines with electric starting. Farmers can again in 1933 while driving an Allis Chalmers Model U tractor grow fuel for diesel engines, i.e., biodiesel, the subject of through an Indiana town. Most rubber-tired tractors a recent ASABE lecture. could go 25 km/h (16 mph) or more on public roadways, permitting farmers to include widely separated parcels in Other tractor changes increasing the size of their farming operations. Increasing Space does not permit inclusion of many other parts average farm size led to fewer farmers, a trend that was of tractor history or future developments, e.g., automatic accelerated by the use of pneumatic tires. tractor guidance, which is now nearing commercial reality. The three-point hitch Until the ASAE three-point hitch standard was developed in 1959, it was diffi cult or impossible to mount one manufacturer’s implements on another manufac- turer’s tractor. In 1936, Harry Ferguson began selling his light tractor equipped with his three-point hitch, including automatic draft control, in the British Isles and Norway. In 1938, after seeing Ferguson’s hitch, Henry

Ford made a verbal agreement to include it on the Ford ® PERCENT | DREAMSTIME.COM Model 9N tractors that entered the market in 1939. After a dispute ended the agreement in 1946, the two men became competitors in making tractors. Most tractor makers adopted the ASAE hitch standard after 1959, and use of one manufacturer’s machines on another’s tractors became possible. The three-point hitch accelerated the trend to larger farm sizes, because mounted or semi-mounted implements are easier to transport at higher speeds than pull-type implements. A modern farm tractor

Changes in fuels The modern farm tractor has features beyond the Using draft animals, farmers could grow their own imaginations of early tractor designers. How could they “fuel,” e.g., feed for the animals, but it was necessary to have imagined a future operator sitting in an air-condi- buy tractor fuel. Early fuels included gasoline, kerosene, tioned cab, using the Internet to check crop prices while and a 30-octane distillate fuel. Kerosene and distillate GPS guides the tractor across the fi eld? fuels had low volatility, so engines were started on gasoline and then switched to the main fuel. Minneapolis ASABE fellow Carroll E. Goering is professor emeritus, Moline introduced their high-compression Universal University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill., USA; [email protected].

6 October 2008 RESOURCE Adding Value to Poultry Litter Using Transportable Pyrolysis Foster A. Agblevor

he safe and economical disposal of poultry develop transportable pyrolysis units to process the litter is becoming a major problem for the U.S. waste from poultry growers within one locality, thus poultry industry. Current disposal methods, reducing transportation cost. This technology will T such as land application and cattle feeding, not only solve the waste disposal and water pollution are now under pressure because of pollution of water problems, but it will also convert potential waste to a resources due to leaching and runoff, and concern high-value product such as energy and fertilizer. for mad cow disease contaminating the human food chain. Incineration or combustion is potentially appli- How it works cable to large-scale operations, but for small growers Pyrolysis is a high-temperature process in the and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) non- absence of oxygen that converts organic matter into attainment areas, this is not a suitable option because a complex mixture of non-condensable gas (producer of the high cost of pollution abatement equipment and gas), vapors, and solid residue (biochar). The vapors operation. Thus, there is a need for developing suitable can be condensed into liquids (bio-oil), and the technologies to dispose of poultry litter. producer gas can be used as fuel for the pyrolysis process. Pyrolysis: from In a recent study, poultry litters from broiler waste to value chicken and turkey houses, as well as bedding material, Researchers at were converted into bio-oil in a laboratory-scale fast Virginia Tech have pyrolysis fl uidized bed reactor. The bio-oil yields identifi ed pyrolysis ranged from 36 to 50 wt% depending on the age and as a potential tech- bedding material content of the litter. The bedding nology for disposing material, which was mostly hardwood shavings, had of poultry litter. bio-oil yield as high as 63 wt%. The biochar yield The ultimate goal ranged from 27 to 40 wt% depending on the source, Sample of poultry litter bio-oil. of the project is to age, and composition of the poultry litter.

RESOURCE October 2008 7 The higher heating value of the poultry litter bio-oils ranged from 26 to 29 MJ/kg, which is close to the heating value of low-quality coal, but the bio-oils had very little sulfur content, below 1 wt%. The oils had relatively high nitrogen content, ranging from 4 to 8 wt%. The biochar could be potentially used as fertilizer or a soil amendment, while the non-condensable gases could be recycled and used as fuel for the process. A community advocacy group, Waste Solutions Forum, consisting of farmers and researchers, was formed in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and worked with Virginia Tech researchers to secure funding ($1 million) from the U.S. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to Sample biochar from poultry litter pyrolysis. build and demonstrate scaled-up pyrolysis technology. A transportable pyrolysis unit with a design capacity of his facilities to be used in demonstrating the technology. one to fi ve tons per day was designed and constructed He has subsequently constructed a waste heat burner and is being demonstrated on a farm in Dayton, Va. that will be used for demonstration purposes. Blue Moon Fund is providing funding support to demonstrate the process on the farm in Dayton. To ensure that this tech- nology does not create air emission problems, the Farm Pilot Projects Corporation has provided funds to support the sampling and testing of all emissions from both the pyrolysis process and the combustion of the bio-oil. The emission tests will be based on EPA-approved methods. ADI Sterling, Inc., a Minnesota-based company, also plans to use the bio-oils to generate electricity. At the time of writing, researchers are scheduled to investigate and demonstrate the suitability of this technology. Apart from providing energy and disposing of the litter, the technology also addresses biosecurity concerns such as avian fl u. In case of a fl u outbreak, the trans- portable pyrolysis unit could be moved to the poultry houses and the litter pyrolyzed in place. Because of the high temperatures used, e.g., 400-500°C (752-932°F), all pathogens and prions will be destroyed during the process. The demonstration project will be completed within six months. Virginia Tech researchers are currently Demonstration-scale transportable pyrolysis unit in looking for potential investors to commercialize the operation on a Dayton, Va. farm. process. Interested companies should contact Greg Hess, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, [email protected]. Testing, testing, testing Virginia Tech is cooperating with farmers in the Shenandoah Valley who plan to use the poultry litter Foster A. Agblevor is an associate professor, Department of bio-oils to heat chicken houses during the winter. Oren Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute Heatwole, a poultry farmer in the valley, has volunteered and State University, Blacksburg, Va., USA; [email protected]

8 October 2008 RESOURCE ENERGY ISSUES SSerieseries Renewable Energy Gains Global Momentum A global conference held in Washington, D.C., sought to surmount renewable energy R&D challenges and speed up market acceptance of renewables

James R. Fischer, Gale A. Buchanan, Ray Orbach, Reno L. Harnish III, and Puru Jena

nergy is paramount among development, market deployment and processes). Highlights are summa- the world’s pressing issues, so fi nancing, and education and training, rized below. when a large, international, among others. In addition to the WIREC E ministerial-level conference 2008 Ministerial-Level Meeting, the Agriculture, rural development, is convened on the topic, it offers American Council on Renewable and forestry theme hope and provides a road map for Energy (ACORE) and leading U.S. Thomas Dorr, USDA Under resolving global energy problems. The renewable energy trade associations Secretary for Rural Development, Washington International Renewable hosted a Business Conference and pointed out during the conference that Energy Conference (WIREC 2008), Trade Show. This co-sponsored event there was a general recognition that hosted by the U.S. government, was featured 246 exhibitors and drew nearly the food vs. fuel debate is manageable. held during early March of this year 6,000 attendees, making WIREC 2008 According to Dorr, “From an agricul- in Washington, D.C. This conference the largest all-renewable-energies tural perspective, the question is not was intended to take advantage of business-to-business and business-to- food vs. fuel. It is food and fuel, and the momentum generated during government conference and exposition both are opportunities for agriculture.” earlier international renewable energy ever held in the world. More than 70 Participants from Brazil, Japan, and conferences in Bonn, Germany (2004) offi cial side events and workshops other countries reported that signifi cant and Beijing, China (2005). were also held to enhance the partici- under-utilized agricultural resources WIREC 2008 brought together pants’ capacity and knowledge across could be put into production and that world leaders in the fi eld of renewable WIREC’s thematic areas. yields are increasing along with higher energy from 125 countries. Nearly conversion effi ciencies. There was 9,000 participants from governments Opportunities and challenges – agreement at the conference that second (including 103 ministers), international bioenergy and third generation feedstocks will organizations, non-governmental orga- This article reports on the move biofuels beyond food crops to a nizations, and the private sector met WIREC 2008 proceedings related to much broader resource base. Critics of to address the market adoption and the potential and challenges facing bioenergy are thought to have a static scale-up of renewable energy technol- bioenergy. The topic was examined in view of the biomass feedstock production ogies, such as bioenergy, wind, solar, two thematic areas of the conference: potential of modern agriculture. tidal, geothermal, hydroelectric, and Agriculture, Rural Development, There was universal recognition hydrogen. Conference themes included and Forestry; and Research and that renewable energy offers an research and development of materials Development (including bioenergy immense opportunity for farmers and and technology, rural and economic feedstocks and bioenergy conversion rural communities. The agricultural

RESOURCE October 2008 9 and forestry sectors can play a multi- Kepler Euclides Filho, executive and a better understanding of feed- dimensional role in producing and director of the Brazilian Agriculture stock options is essential. providing feedstocks for production Research Corporation, described how of transportation fuels and power Brazil’s overall bioenergy conversion Research and development: and in spawning economic benefi ts programs emphasize feedstock bioenergy conversion processes and growth for rural communities. diversity, sustainability, and enhanced Ray Orbach, the U.S. Department The potential and opportunities are productivity of all commodities to of Energy’s (DOE) Under Secretary not without risk—scale-up must be ensure feedstock availability for all for Science, moderated a session on achieved sustainably, be adaptive uses. He also elaborated on Brazil’s bioenergy conversion processes. In to individual countries’ assets and sugarcane-to-biofuels initiative, which his opening remarks, Orbach empha- resources, and should not degrade emphasizes the environmental and sized that biomass recalcitrance, or the environment. social aspects of utilizing this crop to breaking plant fi bers into sugar effi - A key observation made by all produce biofuels, specifi cally citing the ciently, has been identifi ed as the most WIREC 2008 speakers was the ability to grow this crop on a consid- signifi cant barrier to making biofuels positive impact that renewable energy erable scale on marginal lands. cost-effective. A large-scale, integrated development is having on farmers Marcos S. Jank, president and CEO interdisciplinary approach is needed and small communities. This impact of the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry to overcome this poorly understood relates to both increased prices for Association, also noted that “outside process. A cellulosic biofuels industry commodities, as well as contributing the Amazon, Brazil has 200 million is unlikely to emerge in its absence. It to economic development, wealth ha (500 million acres) of under-utilized was noted that DOE recently estab- creation, and the generation of new pasture land, much of it degraded. lished three new Bioenergy Research high-paying employment opportu- Recent scientifi c, independent research Centers. nities in rural areas. showed that the use of degraded Bruce Dale, Professor of Chemical pastures for sugarcane production Engineering at Michigan State Research and development: in Brazil generates a carbon credit, University, presented a systemic bioenergy feedstock because sugarcane captures larger approach to biofuel production Gale Buchanan, USDA’s Chief amounts of carbon than the quantities and underscored the importance of Scientist and Under Secretary for stocked in this type of land.” three related issues: how to make Research, Education, and Economics, Some panelists raised concerns biofuels economically viable and moderated the bioenergy feedstock over large-scale biofuels production. competitive with fossil fuels; how session, which featured speakers from Timothy Searchinger of Princeton to generate positive environmental government, industry, and academia University’s Woodrow Wilson School impacts from biofuels, and the role discussing prospects of and issues stated that he believes using cropland of the biofuel industry in economic with bioenergy feedstock production. to produce ethanol is nearly twice as growth, particularly in rural areas. Buchanan emphasized that there is greenhouse-gas emission intensive This panel also emphasized the need tremendous potential to capture solar as producing gasoline from fossil to establish local processing plants energy through green plant photo- fuel. Wayne Smith, former Dean of to improve energy efficiency and to synthesis and that agriculture and the University of Florida’s College provide local employment. Ideally, forestry industries have an oppor- of Agriculture, was optimistic about farmers, cooperatives, and/or other tunity and responsibility to assist in the fact that although there was no rural interests should participate renewable energy production. “silver bullet” for widespread biomass in the processing value chain for Miles Drake, Senior Vice President feedstock production, bioengineered biofuels, thereby capturing part of of Research and Development at crops such as poplars have signifi cant the economic benefits. Dale further Weyerhaeuser Co., discussed scaling potential as a principal feedstock predicted that for cellulosic biofuels, up biofuels production from forest in states such as Florida. The panel the center of gravity is likely to shift resources. Drake stressed the need concluded that feedstock diversity, toward a biomass supply chain and to protect the economic value of sustainability, and economic viability feedstock logistics in less than a forest resources, creating incentives are critical components to the success decade. Additional funding will be for third-party sustainability certifi - of achieving the renewable energy necessary to provide the technology, cation, reducing fi nancial risk, and goals of all nations, and new partner- business models, and research to integrating the forestry sector into ships among all players are needed. support this shift. Opportunities carbon markets. He described how Panel members stated that a global also exist to preprocess biomass joint ventures between supply and cooperative and integrated approach for cellulosic ethanol production production companies, such as that to addressing sustainable biomass in regional biomass processing formed between Weyerhaeuser and availability and economic viability is centers, which could simultane- Chevron, can help in addressing these necessary. Productivity and diversity ously generate animal feeds and “scale-up” concerns. of feedstocks need to be enhanced, biorefinery feedstocks.

10 October 2008 RESOURCE James Dumesic, University of 3 percent of total worldwide investment the results are expected to be released Wisconsin Steenbock Professor and for renewable energy technologies R&D soon. Several countries, including Chair of the Department of Chemical (2 percent from the private sector and 1 Switzerland, Tanzania, the United Engineering, elaborated on biofuel percent from governments). Together Kingdom, and the United States, technical research, especially the work with stable and predictable policies made pledges related to bioenergy. In of his group using catalytic methods to and regulations, an investment of this addition, USDA and DOE announced convert sugars to gasoline and diesel magnitude would sustain innovation that, combined, the departments will fuels. He stressed the utility of other to ensure ongoing industry-university- invest up to $18.4 million over three platform chemicals as intermediate government partnerships in R&D years for 21 biomass R&D and demon- chemicals in the conversion of biomass capacity building. The importance of stration projects. These projects will to liquid fuel. Jan-Eric Sundgren, integrating renewable energy sources focus on the critical barriers to making senior vice president for public and into existing energy systems was iden- the production of biomass more effi - environmental affairs and a member of tifi ed, along with a recommendation cient and cost-effective and to help the Group Executive Committee of the that Centers of Excellence be estab- bring online cleaner, biobased products Volvo Group, stressed that a biofuels lished to facilitate interdisciplinary and biofuels. portfolio must be evaluated for its renewable energy technology research utility under different prevailing condi- worldwide. The momentum continues tions. Research was recently completed Recognizing that certain countries A sense of optimism permeated the on equipping carbon-neutral trucks have great expertise in specifi c tech- WIREC 2008 discussions. There was with diesel engines that had been nologies (e.g., Iceland in geothermal, an overall appreciation of the scope and modifi ed to operate with the following Norway in hydroelectric, and Brazil pervasiveness of energy issues in dealing renewable liquid and gaseous fuels: and the United States in biofuels), with climate change and the energy biodiesel, biogas combined with biod- participants recommended that needs of a growing global population. iesel, ethanol/methanol, di-methyl- mechanisms be established to enable There was recognition that scaling up ether, synthetic diesel, and hydrogen international partnerships, collabora- renewable energies will require a global gas combined with biogas. Sundgren tions, and information sharing. The commitment and a global partnership. pointed out that the key issue is how participants also recognized the need ACORE has announced the annual to increase conversion and utilization for human resource development, repeat of the Trade Show at WIREC effi ciency. acknowledging that increasing energy 2008, to be called the Renewable Energy The panel went on to discuss demand implies a growing workforce. Technology Conference and Exhibition various trade-offs between feedstock, The conference specifi cally recom- (RETECH), which will be held at the conversion technologies, and effi - mended capturing the enthusiasm of Las Vegas Convention Center February ciency, concluding that all biofuels are young people by using new interdis- 2009 (www.RETECH2009.com). The not created equal and that different ciplinary educational approaches and government of India has agreed to geographic locations may specialize distributing R&D equitable workforce host the next International Renewable in different biofuels. Biomass supply opportunities worldwide. Energy Conference in 2010. and logistics need to be developed, The entire conference report and and local communities must capture Not just talk, but action related activities can be viewed at www. some of the economic benefi ts of WIREC 2008, like its prede- wirec2008.gov and www.acore.org. biofuel processing. The panel also cessor conferences held in Germany suggested that conversion of sugars and China, focused on specifi c to biofuels other than ethanol could outcomes and actions. For example, a ASABE member James R. Fischer, Scientifi c Advisor for Energy, Science, benefi t from the use of nanotech- Washington International Action Plan and Education to the Under Secretary for nology. R&D efforts should also be has been developed that provides an Research, Education, and Economics, devoted to enhancing the effi ciency of inspiring roadmap of global energy USDA, Washington, D.C., James. battery storage technology. progress and provides guidance on [email protected]; Gale A. Buchanan, Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for specifi c requisite steps to consider for Research, Education, and Economics, WIREC 2008 recommendations advancing renewable energy worldwide. USDA, [email protected]; Recommendations of the R&D In addition, 145 voluntary pledges Ray Orbach, Under Secretary for panels were summarized by Mildred have been made by nations and orga- Science, DOE, ray.orbach@science. doe.gov; Reno L. Harnish III, Principal Dresselhaus, Institute Professor nizations committing to the scaling Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of and Professor of Physics, Electrical up of renewable energy in the coming Oceans, Environment, and Science, Engineering, and Computer Science, months and years. (Pledge details can U.S. Department of State, HarnishRL@ Massachusetts Institute of Technology, be found at www.ren21.net/wiap.) state.gov; and Puru Jena, Jefferson Science Fellow, U.S. Department of State, and presented on the last day of the The impact of these pledges is being and Distinquished Professor, Virginia conference. The recommendations analyzed by the National Renewable Commonwealth University, Richmond, include a commitment of at least Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colo., and [email protected].

RESOURCE October 2008 11 Research and Education Priorities in Agriculture, Forestry, and Energy Achieving the 25x’25 Renewable Energy Vision Duane Acker

A recent paper by the National 25x’25 Agriculture/Forestry sources; assessing the relative effi ciencies of multiple biological Steering Committee lists the high-priority research and education and thermochemical technologies in yielding consumable energy foci, as identifi ed by a variety of public and private sector scientists forms (ethanol, biodiesel, gasoline, syn-gas, bio-oil, or other who provided input, to achieve the vision that “by 2025, America’s biofuels); increasing per acre biomass yields and the processing farms, ranches, and forests will provide 25 percent of the total effi ciency traits of grasses, woody species, and grains while energy consumed in the United States, while continuing to provide holding neutral or enhancing impacts on soil, water, and the safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fi ber.” It notes that: environment; and modeling systems for effi cient handling of the • The benefi ts of renewable energy are many: water, geothermal, biomass volume. wind, and solar energy conversion contribute to reduced • The highest education priorities include ensuring that faculty atmospheric carbon; biomass conversion to transportation is equipped to transmit cutting-edge knowledge to the next fuels enhances national security by reducing dependence generation of scientists, professionals, and business leaders; on imported petroleum; and all contribute to the economic curriculum development; and aggressive extension education vitality of rural America. The priorities refl ect that scientists that conveys knowledge and research output to policy leaders, recognize major logistical challenges, especially linking energy conversion industry workers, biomass producers, and the sources to locations and patterns of energy consumption, and general public. the massive biomass requirement for signifi cant production of The paper recommends that national and state policy makers fund transportation fuel. and encourage this research and education, and that university and • The highest research priorities include modeling of systems to federal agency leadership increasingly focus resources and staff on mesh variable wind- and solar-generated electricity with other the listed priorities. Excerpts follow.

he current energy situation presents the United States a federal research agency. This is especially needed in the and the world with both challenges and opportunities, biofuels sector to help ensure comparative attention to especially for the U.S. agriculture and forestry sectors. multiple and competing feedstocks, conversion technol- T It is evident that these sectors can make a major ogies, and products by both senior scientists and students. contribution to reducing U.S. dependence on imported and • Research on the likely impacts of various policy drivers and fossil energy sources and, in so doing, enhance the country’s incentives, such as reductions in carbon emissions per BTU, economic security, move toward atmospheric carbon balance, incentives for energy product volume or proportions, or and bring more economic activity to much of rural America. increases in vehicle fuel effi ciency. Energy markets—including transportation fuels, electricity, and • Assess consumer behavior and attitudes towards renewable natural gas—are growing, and global competition for energy energy. What are consumers excited about, and if there are resources will only increase. concerns, what are they and why? Rural land not only provides biomass for transportation and other fuels, but it is where much of the solar and wind energy Water and geothermal capture will occur. Unstated in the vision, but assumed as a basic Conversion technologies are mature, relative to those premise for achieving it, is that the natural resource base (soil, of other energy sources, and although effi ciencies in both water, and biological diversity) and atmospheric environment conversion and integration with other energy product may can and will be preserved or enhanced in the process. continually be sought, research needs were not deemed to be as high a priority as for other sectors. Research needs, science-wide and sector-wide From the standpoint of renewable energy science and the Wind and solar related agricultural and forestry interests, the following prior- Scientist input must focus on quantifying the ities were identifi ed: potential to reduce atmospheric carbon and to • A national scientifi c renewable energy forum for discourse provide other environmental benefi ts, plus minimizing among all contributing disciplines, preferably hosted by constraints on integrating the electricity produced at

12 October 2008 RESOURCE both the grid and consumer levels, e.g., home and indus- • Extension education programs involving a wide spectrum of trial installations. university disciplines and delivery systems and often targeted to specifi c audiences. Biomass conversion technologies • Objective and science-based “state of technology” papers Whereas centrally controlled economies have tended to choose targeted to policy decision-makers. one technology to address a societal need and put all government • Renewable energy curriculum materials for secondary, middle, money and incentives into that technology, the United States, and primary schools. with multiple research agencies and research universities, plus the • FFA and 4-H projects focused on renewable energy. private sector (where creativity and ingenuity often short-cut tech- • Workshops, summer experiences, and curriculum materials for nology advances), has generally pursued multiple technologies grades 7-12 teachers so they can incorporate energy concepts and has more rapidly achieved needed and effi cient technologies. into instruction programs.

Biomass production and handling Recommendations Regardless of the conversion process or the fuel product, large Recognizing the extraordinary research and education capacity volumes of biomass feedstock are needed. At the same time, global and collaborative experiences of the public and private sectors, the food demand continues to increase. The result is that intensifying 25x’25 steering committee recommends that: biomass production will put enormous pressure on the soil and • Research and education leadership and staff focus attention water resource base. and resources on the priorities listed, in accord with the skills and talents of the respective research or education entity. Products and co-products • Policy-makers (the administration, congress, governors, state Although many of the following relate to biomass conversion legislators, and other leaders) fund and encourage research technologies, they are prioritized because of their current and education programs that attain the needed outcomes, economic and political prominence: recognizing that wind and solar conversion contribute strongly • Develop or identify products from biorefi nery streams that may to atmospheric carbon balance, that biomass conversion have pharmaceutical, industrial, and other high-value applica- contributes strongly to economic and energy security, including tions and develop the extraction and refi nement systems for reduced dependence on imported oil, and that all contribute to such products. increased economic activity in much of rural America. • Develop higher-value products, such as human foods or • Policy-makers recognize that, whereas “feedstock” for solar, construction materials, from distiller’s grains or other fermen- wind or geothermal conversion is essentially limitless (though tation by-products. dependent on location), feedstock for biomass conversion • Assess the value and demand for ethanol and other alcohols as is limited, and that sharply increased biomass volume will oxygenates, octane enhancers, and fuel extenders. be required for a major reduction in foreign oil dependence. • Develop animal feeding systems for effi cient and economic Achieving that increase will require aggressive research, devel- use of fractionation residue of feedstock and conversion opment, and extension education. by-products. Examples are the protein and fi ber portions of the • USDA, DOE, and other federal agencies maintain close commu- corn kernel or the protein, oil, and fi ber of distillers’ grains. nication and coordination of their funded programs, with the understanding that DOE’s stronger focus is on conversion tech- Education nologies and USDA’s stronger focus is on biomass feedstock The following are specifi c education priorities: and rural development. • University faculty who are intellectually and professionally • A systems approach to renewable energy development be fully equipped, on the cutting edge of both science and industry supported with appropriate federal agency coordination of applications, to transmit knowledge to the next generation of funded in-house, university, and private sector efforts. scientists, professionals, and business leaders. • Aggressive and coordinated extension education by University/ • Interdisciplinary graduate education programs that include Cooperative Extension staff to the consuming public, biomass laboratory and fi eld experience, and that are designed to equip producers, and conversion businesses on related technologies the next generation of energy-related scientists and profes- and societal features of renewable energy, as well as energy sionals to function in a multi-discipline environment. conservation. • Undergraduate agriculture and forestry curriculums attuned • Curriculum in universities and community colleges be to energy as a major product and designed to prepare the next developed in response to employment needs and citizen under- generation of needed professionals. standing of renewable energy. • Community college curriculums and courses designed and staffed to prepare technicians for production and To read the full paper, please visit www.25x’25.org, then click Resources/Research, Education Priorities for a Renewable Energy processing jobs in the renewable energy arena, from wind Future. For more information contact the author, Duane Acker, system operators to quality control or process technicians President Emeritus of Kansas State University and member of the in biofuel plants. 25x’25 Steering Committee, [email protected].

RESOURCE October 2008 13 Addressing Uncertainty Pondering how biological systems respond to their environment

Mark Riley

hat will the fi eld of agricultural and and then, ultimately, a backlash against a technology that biological engineering look like in the was not able to cure all ills. Engineers need to continue to future? It is a signifi cant challenge to predict educate the public and improve understanding of our fi eld W where a profession and a society will be even so that new technologies may be accepted by the public. 10 years hence. The following are thoughts on factors that To do so, we need to re-examine who we are, where we will play a signifi cant role in our evolution as a profession have been, and what are our core competencies that can in the coming years. translate to our evolving society.

Engineers must be educators What makes us different? Society is becoming increasingly technologically savvy What distinguishes agricultural and biological engi- with the use of new devices (cell phones, the Internet, iPods, neering from other engineering disciplines? It is the great hybrid automobiles) while at the same time becoming uncertainty that is inherent in biological systems and how technologically illiterate. The common person frequently we address such uncertainty. Currently, it is diffi cult, and does not care to know how these gadgets work or their one could say impossible, to predict how an individual inherent risks, and so the public often loses perspective on plant, animal, or microorganism will develop, mature, what efforts are required to innovate, create, and generate and respond to its environment. This lack of predictive such products. This lack of motivation to learn science capabilities is grounded in our rather poor understanding and mathematics affects people when they need to make of the fundamental underpinning of biological function. decisions based on incomplete information, a funda- Compare our fi eld to civil engineering whose practi- mental challenge in engineering. Technology is disposable tioners have such a thorough understanding of statics, on shorter and shorter time spans, serving the whim of our dynamics, and materials properties as to be able to decreasing attention spans. This can lead to poor decisions predict how concrete performs in a road, bridge, or

14 October 2008 RESOURCE ®JGROUP | DREAMSTIME.COM

Sometimes you “can’t see the forest for the trees.” The systems approach helps one see the big picture from a cacophony of data. building. Little is left to chance, and fortunately in most The coming revolution cases, the predicted performance goal is met, although The fi eld of agricultural and biological engineering is recent examples of poor performance demonstrate the on the cusp of a major revolution in how we think about critical need for continued inspection and maintenance. plant, animal, microbial, and biotechnological applica- Perhaps a more appropriate comparison can be made to tions, which will impact how we do business and how aerospace engineering. Fluid mechanics has evolved greatly we train students. This change incorporates an aspect of from the identifi cation of the transition from laminar fl ow our profession, which is rare among engineering fi elds. I to turbulent fl ow by Osborne Reynolds. Even though we do am referring to systems analysis, a core competency of not understand turbulent fl ow on a molecular level, we are the fi eld, which is presented in fewer and fewer academic able to make predictions of shear forces and velocity profi les programs. suffi ciently to be able to design airplanes with excellent safety To put this into a historical context requires a brief records, so long as proper maintenance is followed. Advances look back to 1944. In that year, Erwin Schrödinger, the in a molecular-level theoretical framework of turbulence noted physicist, published his treatise, “What is life?” He would undoubtedly improve performance of airplanes, reduce proposed that two concepts should be applied to develop fuel consumption, and eliminate the impact of hazardous a mathematical understanding of living systems: order wind shear. from order, and order from disorder. The fi rst applies to This situation is quite similar to the uncertainties met the concept of the transfer of genetic information from by agricultural and biological engineers. Advances in our parent to child and prohibits spontaneous generation. The understanding of how biological systems respond to their second is best applied in terms of metabolism—energy is environment would improve our ability to produce food, expended to maintain membrane potentials and for active fi ber, and other natural products using fewer resources transport—to decrease entropy within the cell, tissue, and and in more challenging environments. organism at the expense of entropy in the environment.

RESOURCE October 2008 15 These concepts are (hopefully) now well known to has shown that epigenomic (outside the genome) factors play high school students, but in 1944 they represented a new a sizeable role in how living systems respond to their envi- perspective: that living systems could be analyzed using ronment, thus circumventing the central dogma of biology. similar mathematical rigor as had led to enormous advances The fundamental challenges in systems biology are inher- in high-energy physics, which provided the foundations to ently in system integration. How is information on hundreds search for previously undiscovered elemental particles. The of thousands of data points from proteins, genes, small power of physical theory has not yet been matched in the molecules, fats, sugars, and other compounds incorporated life sciences. We are now on the verge of meeting the chal- into a holistic understanding of biological function? More lenges laid down by Schrödinger 64 years ago in developing importantly, who is going to develop the tools to take this mathematically rigorous frameworks for understanding the newly formed fundamental understanding out of the labo- complexities of living systems. This advance is being led ratory and put it into practice? Classically trained biologists through application of the tools initially applied to living rarely have the necessary computational and modeling tools. systems in the fi eld of agriculture. Computer scientists have the tools, but often are poorly prepared to address the redundant and confl icting termi- The whole is greater than the sum of parts nology and concepts of living systems. However, agricultural Systems analysis involves the integration of multiple and biological engineers are uniquely suited to serve as a components, constraints, and goals to meet a higher end. bridge between these two areas and to provide the necessary Successful use of the principles requires an understanding synergism to drive the advances of this revolution. of how individual pieces of a device work, how they interact, and how synergistic relationships lead to the whole being Where does this take us over the next 10 years? greater than the sum of the parts. If biological advances continue to follow the hyper- Systems analysis methodologies are being applied to Moore’s law of doubling information every six months interpret, model, and make use of the enormous amount of (at least gauged by our rate of DNA sequencing), then in information provided by genetic engineering. In the 1970s, 10 years our understanding of the complexities of living genetic or genomic analyses followed the tenet of one gene, systems would be complete, and there would be nothing left one protein, one function, leading to the expression of YFG to learn. Not likely. Leon Hood, the founder of the Institute (your favorite gene). This is the fi rst step in the so-called for Systems Biology and the inventor of technologies to central dogma of biology: DNA begets RNA begets sequence and synthesize DNA, predicts that by 2015 every protein. adult in the United States will have their personal DNA The development in the past 10 years of on-chip, sequenced. This will inevitably lead to diagnostics and widespread genomic analyses, such as provided by the preventative care not only for human health but also for Affymetrix chips, permits quantifi cation and identifi cation cultivated crops and reared animals. In 10 years, the fi eld of the expression (the amount of RNA produced and, of agricultural and biological engineers could be well-inte- hence, protein produced) of 15,000 genes. This is truly a grated into the post-genomic era, participating in devel- more useful measure of what is happening within any living opment of commercial products and driving the technology biological system compared to just the sequence of DNA for the benefi t of mankind. Perhaps we will fi nally be able to present within the cell. The DNA of an organism represents solve the vexing questions of biological uncertainty through the potential, whereas the RNA and protein represent the truly engineered biological devices and systems. function. Pulling these pieces together demonstrates that the fi eld of agricultural and biological engineering can have Challenges of the future a substantial role in the development of technology and The challenges that now face biologists lie in how to society in the 21st century. The approaches used to address analyze the behavior of generous genes evaluated at multiple the challenges of generating food, fi ber, and biological time points. The fi eld of systems biology has developed to products will benefi t greatly from these tools, but only at meet these needs by not only incorporating modeling of the hands of a cohort of broadly trained, enthusiastic, inno- genes and gene expression (genomics and proteomics) but vative, and creative engineers—just like we have in 2008. also by providing a framework to evaluate the metabolism of an organism (metabolomics), the response to infection ASABE member Mark Riley is professor, Department of and wound healing, the folding and activation of proteins, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Arizona, and developmental and maturation processes. New research Tucson, Ariz., USA; [email protected].

16 October 2008 RESOURCE Nanobiotechnology, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, and the Future Norman R. Scott

he new fi elds of nanobiotechnology, renewable energy, and sustainability have a rapidly growing importance for T today’s science and technology and are good candidates for real prominence in the future. As yet, though, none of these three tech- nologies is even close to maturity. Considering the slow but steady pace of technological devel- opment over the past century (Figure 1), it is likely to be another century—let’s say the year 2100—before the full potential of nanobiotech- nology, renewable energy, and sustainability will be realized. All are familiar with the “big bang” theory in astrophysics. This author’s suggestion, and others think likewise, is that we are currently in a “little bang” of technologies that will play out in the 21st century. The elements of these technologies are: Figure 1. Evolution of technologies (courtesy of James • Bits, the basic unit in information science. Cooper, Purdue University) • Atoms, the basic unit of nanotechnology. • Neurons, the basic unit of cognitive science. • Genes, the basic unit of biotechnology. science, and cognition. To discuss how these exciting and We are entering a time of convergence of nanotechnology, potentially path-breaking developments will lead us into biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive the 22nd century, we must focus on three that represent science, which some in the scientifi c community have both the greatest challenge and the greatest opportunity for labeled “NBIC”—for neurons, biotechnology, information biological and environmental engineers.

RESOURCE October 2008 17 Nanobiotechnology for bioenergy and biomaterials. Numerous recent reports Nanobiotechnology is an enabling technology that has have suggested that the United States can produce more the potential to revolutionize agriculture and food systems. than 1 billion tons of biomass annually from agricultural Examples of potential applications of nanobiotechnology in and forest lands, to meet as much as one third of our need the science and engineering of agriculture and food systems for transportation fuels by 2030. The sources of biomass are many and include disease treatment delivery systems, would include annual crop residues, perennial energy crops, new tools for molecular and cellular biology, the security grains used for biofuels, animal manures, process residues, of agriculture and food systems, and new techniques and and other miscellaneous feedstocks. materials for pathogen detection and protection of the envi- Wind turbines are becoming common around the ronment. Existing research has clearly demonstrated the world—in the United States, Europe, China, and other feasibility of nanoshells and nanotubes for introduction into countries. Turbines that produce 1.5 to 1.65 MW dot our animals to seek and destroy targeted cells. Nanoparticles landscapes. Turbines able to generate 8 MW are on the smaller than one micron have been used to deliver drugs drawing board and will be common by 2100 with even larger and genes into cells. machines available. Opportunities exist to identify and track agricul- Solar energy is also beginning to take off. New tural products for detection of pesticides, fertilizers, and companies are using second-generation technologies for foreign matter throughout the life of the commodity (from inexpensive processes. One company alone predicts it can production to the table). We can envision treatment delivery produce enough solar cells to produce 430 MW annually, systems with multiple applications, having an impact on and that is only one example of a new type of solar power. improved digestibility and fl avor of foods and for nutrient These second-generation technologies include dye- applications and implantable, self-regulating drug delivery sensitive solar cells, non-crystalline silicon cells based on systems that might be activated to combat diseases long organic materials, and thin-fi lm inorganic CIGS (copper, before symptoms are evident. The integration of nano- sensing systems with reporting, localization, and control systems will allow real-time monitoring and control of plants, animals, and their environment. Other areas are self-healing nanomaterials, bio-selective

surfaces, and self-assembly of biological systems by nano- Down Top scale self-assembly systems. Environmental issues and agricultural waste challenges can be addressed with nano- biotechnology, including the extraction of biopolymers from agricultural products and the design of nanocatalysts for waste bioprocessing. Now for the really big one: molecular manufacturing using a “bottoms-up” approach (Figure 2) can be used to fabricate food, molecule by molecule, rather than growing it! Food is a combination of molecules in a particular order. It is conceivable that by 2100 we will be engineering foods, molecule by molecule, by mass production to meet the nutritional needs of a hungry planet. What an exciting opportunity for biological engineers! Bottom Up Bottom Renewable energy As we all know, agriculture is much more than food production. It is also a major source of natural raw materials for bioproducts and bioenergy, and thus it is a signifi cant engine to drive our transition to a sustainable world. In the Figure 2. Singular “Bottom-up” approach to nanobiotechnology near term, biomass represents a major renewable resource (Courtesy of Dan Luo, Cornell University)

18 October 2008 RESOURCE iridium, gallium, and selenium) semiconductors. A third- this concept. I particularly like Roy Weston’s description generation solar technology is the hope for the future, of the concept as an impetus for action: “Sustainable when nanostructures such as quantum dots with their development is a process of change in which the direction unique characteristics can be expected to increase solar of investment, the orientation of technology, the allocation cell effi ciency by a factor of two or more. of resources, and the development and functioning of In addition, geothermal, although highly region-specifi c, institutions meet present needs and aspirations without will be used increasingly in regions where this resource exists endangering the capacity of natural systems to absorb in abundance but where so far, with some notable exceptions, the effects of human activities, and without compro- it has been underexploited. mising the ability of future generations to meet their Because renewable energy lends itself to distributed own needs and aspirations” (R. F. Weston, Sustainable generation, power plants for electrical and heat generation Development: Defi nition and Implementation Strategies, will serve local communities effi ciently and effectively, as an 1993). Thus, sustainable development is a “process” of alternative to large central plants that require transmission redirection, reorientation, and reallocation, an evolving over a largely aging, outmoded, and often deteriorating grid. concept rather than a fi xed defi nition. As I see it, it is The vision here is integration of renewable energy systems to a fundamental redesign of technological, economic, and meet the local needs of sustainable communities. sociological processes to address change. Local commu- Pardon a personal bias to suggest the example of a dairy nities control a major fraction of a nation’s energy and (and other animal farm) transitioning from production of a resource consumption. Therefore, the challenge is to single farm product (milk) to a comprehensive system that create a sustainable entrepreneurship that integrates (1) produces other bioproducts, (2) produces bioenergy energy, environmental, agricultural, and industrial that can drive other integrated food and fi ber production innovation. systems, and (3) generates bioenergy for off-farm enter- It is out of this context that I propose the concept of prises, contributing to the energy needs of the surrounding the global biologically integrated sustainable community community. Anaerobic digestion will serve as the basic (GBISC), a community with biologically derived fuels; process to produce biogas from organic wastes (animal renewable energy systems; total recycling; energy conser- manures co-digested with food and industrial wastes). The vation; close-proximity transportation for the work, live, energy converter of the future would be a fuel cell. and play environments; sustainable enterprises developed Thus, by 2100, all of our worldwide energy needs can from agriculturally based bioindustries, including both be provided from a suite of renewable energy resources, new “molecular technologies” as well as new bioindustries; principally biomass, wind, and solar, with a signifi cant and infrastructure development to take advantage of the amount of hydroelectric power. Clearly, the biological and advances in information technologies for communication, environmental engineer will be the driver of, as General both internal and external to the community. Electric now calls it, ecomagination! To avoid the perception that agriculture in 2100 will be only a rural development, I want to paint another exciting Sustainability picture (at least, it’s exciting to me) of urban agriculture The modern world is in transition to a world with more in an integrated system within a large building complex people, greater consumption of materials and resources, (~50,000 persons) that is designed to be a complete live, more connectedness, and a need to reduce poverty work, and play environment. The structure is a high-rise without destroying the environment. Over the past two complex with built-in renewable energy systems, including decades, “sustainability” has become a principal concept an array of megawatt wind turbines at the top of the to integrate technological, economic, social, and political structure, and all vertical surfaces integrate photovoltaic issues to address environmental protection and economic cells for electricity generation. Human and solid wastes are development. treated by anaerobic digestion to produce methane, which Sustainability, which is our common future, means after conversion to hydrogen, is utilized by fuel cells for “meeting the needs of the present without compromising combined heat and power to meet heating and electrical the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” loads. When methane (beyond that needed for operating (The Brundtland Report: Our Common Future, 1987). this mega-facility) is produced, it can be directly reformed Many have suggested further defi nitions building upon to hydrogen as a high value-added commodity.

RESOURCE October 2008 19 By 2100, photoactive bacteria will be available to accrue in both time and vehicle expenses because one can directly convert waste products to hydrogen for operating work, live, and play in the same building. the building’s fuel cells or producing high-purity hydrogen While it seems very far-fetched today, it is technically as a commodity product. The “farms” will be at fl oor levels, feasible even now, and certainly by 2100. A concept of this say every 10th, 20th, or 30th fl oor, for growing of food, magnitude and uniqueness will attract the creative and inter- both within an outdoor environment and in controlled- disciplinary thinking discussed above, and it will require the environment agriculture (CEA) for high-valued crops. greatest intellectual effort that has for so long been asso- The remainder of the building will be a fairly typical high- ciated with the disciplinary fi elds. Here again, the integrative rise building with offi ces, businesses, consumer stores, and systems skills of biological and environmental engineers medical facilities, schools, banks, restaurants, and many will be challenged to create new communities that represent other functions. a sustainable model for working, living, and playing. Yes, the university also exists within the complex. How else can it serve society unless it is an active and fully engaged participant in the live, work, and play environment? Additionally, the community will include all economic ASABE fellow Norman R. Scott is professor, Department of segments, all ages including retirement, and comprehensive Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, healthcare facilities. A major transportation savings will Ithaca, N.Y., USA; [email protected].

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20362246_Chippewa.indd October 2008 1 RESOURCE 12/17/07 4:02:32 PM Embracing Sustainable Development as a Profession Laura Christianson, Alok Bhandari, and Brian Steward

ecent years have witnessed wide publicity of a variety of global sustainability Rissues reaching across political and natural borders. While some of these challenges have been around for decades, recent renewed interest has brought them to the forefront of societal importance. For example, this past year’s increases in food prices and food shortages have highlighted the pervasive issue of global poverty, and recent fl ooding and droughts in the United States and tsunamis in Asia have led to renewed emphases in ecosystem services and water supply issues. Dismal statistics about our current global situation and ominous fore- casts about our future can be heard or read on a daily basis in nearly all media news outlets. The good news? The time has never been more appropriate for agricultural Students from KSU’s chapter of EWB help Grassroots, an Indian NGO, develop a and biological engineers to play a system to move goods from villages to roadways in the Himalayan foothills. leading role in problem-solving on the global stage. scale mechanization and industri- we have an opportunity and a profes- Engineers are trained to use the alization. Some have argued that sional responsibility to contribute in principles of science and engineering the rapid enhancement in industrial a pro bono manner to the solution of to improve individual and societal exis- productivity may have contributed these problems. tence. Over the last century, agricul- to new societal challenges, such as Agricultural and biological engi- tural and biological engineers have climate change and an imbalanced neers are uniquely positioned to played a critical role in advancing global distribution of wealth and contribute their perspective and human civilization through large- well-being. As 21st century engineers, more than 100 years of experience

RESOURCE October 2008 21 as a profession. Because most global sustainability issues involve many facets (such as economics, society, and environment), amelio- ration of these concerns unques- tionably requires multi-disciplinary approaches. Indeed, the profession of agricultural and biological engi- neering is inherently multi-disci- plinary. From water supply, to soil quality, to waste management, to mechanization, to bioprocessing and renewable energy, the expertise within our fi eld can address many of the critical issues facing the globe. As professionals, ASABE members can offer a wide array of practical skills that allow contributions for not only one or two of these dire global needs, but nearly all. Highlighting our discipline’s role in improving peoples’ lives and preserving the environment should ISU-ESW students plan for biogas digester installation in Uganda attract students who want to help enhance the quality of life in the world’s impoverished and devel- service work to address global issues. Example projects oping communities. Such students Specifi cally, organizations like India. Four members of Kansas include women and minorities whose Engineers Without Borders (EWB- State University’s (KSU) student recruitment and retention in engi- USA) and Engineers for a Sustain- chapter of EWB recently spent their neering programs remain a major able World (ESW) offer opportu- spring break in India to learn fi rst- challenge. These populations usually nities for students and professionals hand how non-governmental organi- cite their intentions to help people as alike to become involved in inter- zations (NGOs) work with villagers a reason for choosing professions national and local service projects in the lower Himalayas to promote such as medicine or law over engi- with a special focus on increased rainwater harvesting, sustainable neering. As modern agricultural sustainability. Founded in 2000, agriculture, micro-enterprise devel- and biological engineers, we should EWB-USA has quickly grown to opment, and renewable energy. loudly communicate the unique include chapters in every state in the Architectural, agricultural, civil, elec- opportunities that our discipline United States, with more than 200 trical, and mechanical engineering offers to students and professionals chapters (student and professional) students have joined forces to help who want to make a difference in the working on projects in 41 countries design a rope-way conveyance system daily lives of the world’s most disad- (www.ewb-usa.org). ESW, founded that will enable rural women to vantaged people by helping them in 2002, focuses on infusing sustain- transport goods from downhill village secure safe drinking water, adequate ability into engineering education workshops to uphill roadways. sanitation, affordable housing, and practice through domestic and Uganda. Iowa State University’s renewable energy, and sustainable international service projects. ESW (ISU) ESW chapter has been collabo- agriculture. has chapters on about 20 campuses rating with ISU’s Center for Sustainable In recent years, engineers have across America (www.esustainable- Rural Livelihood on technology devel- been given an outlet for international world.org). opment projects in Uganda. Several

22 October 2008 RESOURCE topics as water quality, biorenewable energy, food processing, and rural electrifi cation. Clearly, the experi- ences that engineering students have in working on these kinds of projects are important in their development as professionals. Students have indicated that the projects are helpful for them in understanding the practice of engi- neering and development. Projects set in the context of developing world problems have helped students to see how engineering concepts can be applied to real-life situations. Agricultural and biological engi- neers are uniquely placed to engage local and international communities in sustainable development work. Our skills and experience can help improve the quality of life in the world’s impoverished and developing regions. Integrating international …and then work with Ugandans to dig a pit for the digester. projects into engineering education programs can help recruit and retain students while immersing them in student teams have traveled to Uganda to learn about Brazilian bioenergy culturally enriched and socially to work on location with an NGO. systems and work with the UFV team contextualized technical experiences. Students designed and built a biogas on project tasks. These projects can also challenge digester and subsequently provided In the past fi ve years, several courses working professionals to practice advice and education on its mainte- and a few degree programs focusing their skills in uniquely resource- nance and utilization. In addition, a on engineering and technology devel- and technology-constrained envi- rooftop water harvesting system was opment for the developing world have ronments. Our profession’s unique designed and built to catch and store emerged in U.S. engineering colleges. connections with technology, food water during the rainy season for For example, Virginia Tech teaches production, and natural resources household use. a course titled Water Supply and give us a preferred edge and an Brazil. Students from ISU and the Sanitation in Developing Countries, obligation to promote sustainable Federal University of Vicosa, Minas the Colorado School of Mines offers a engineering and development, and Gerais, Brazil, have worked together minor in Humanitarian Engineering, mentor the engineers of the future on two U.S. EPA People, Planet, and Iowa State University engineering who are involved in groups such as and Prosperity (P3) projects. The faculty members teach a multidis- EWB and ESW. focus of these projects was on small- ciplinary course titled Sustainable scale renewable energy in Brazil Engineering and International ASABE members Laura Christianson and Iowa. Systems models were Development. In the ISU course, ([email protected]) is a graduate developed to estimate sustainability students work in multidisciplinary student, and Alok Bhandari (alokb@ metrics as well as economic feasi- teams and on term projects set in iastate.edu) and Brian Steward bility. Opportunities and barriers to the developing world. The majority ([email protected]) are associate professors, Department of Agricultural adoption were analyzed. Two ISU of the projects address sustainability and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State student teams traveled to Brazil in agri-food systems including such University, Ames, USA.

RESOURCE October 2008 23 TransAtlantic Precision Agriculture Consortium

George Vellidis TAPAC students and faculty visit a farm near Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany, during the summer of 2007.

ometimes things that sound too good to be The grants provided generous stipends for 21 American true are indeed true: for example, an interna- college students and 21 European college students to spend tional student exchange program that provided a semester in Europe or the United States, respectively, SAmerican and European agricultural engi- immersed in the precision agriculture research program of neering students the opportunity to study abroad at abso- their host university. Each partner university was respon- lutely no cost. The exchange program was developed under sible for sending seven students abroad and hosting seven the umbrella of the TransAtlantic Precision Agriculture students from abroad. Consortium, or TAPAC. TAPAC is a partnership between six universities—three in the United States and three in the Diverse faculty and students European Union—developed to foster student and faculty The faculty involved in this program is a multidisci- exchanges. The partnership offi cially began in 2004, but plinary group and includes a soil scientist, an agronomist, the foundation was laid years before through professional and several agricultural engineers. The students partici- networking and long-term friendships. The partner univer- pating in the program refl ect the multidisciplinary nature sities are the University of Georgia (lead U.S. partner), of the faculty and included engineering students as well as Auburn University, Mississippi State University, the students representing several of the agricultural sciences. University of Thessaly (Greece—lead EU partner), the The majority of the participating students were upper University of Padua (Italy), and the Technical University division undergraduate students, but a few graduate of Munich (Germany). students also participated. To prepare for the exchange program, the students were Underwritten by grants required to take a precision agriculture course at their home The impetus for formalizing the partnership was two university or learn the same information from an on-line grants from a United States/European Union program now training module developed by TAPAC faculty. (The training known as the Atlantis program. One grant was awarded module is available at www.nespal.org/tapac/training.) In to the American partners by the U.S. Department of addition, the students were required to study the language Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary and culture of their host university prior to their departure. Education (FIPSE), and the other grant was awarded Although all of the participating European students were simultaneously to the European partners by the European fl uent in English, the American students found it quite Commission’s Multinational Partnerships for Cooperation diffi cult to learn conversational Greek, German, or Italian in Higher Education program. The goal of these programs within a semester or two prior to their departure. The is to provide students with the experience of living and language preparation was focused on providing American working in a culture different from their own. This students with enough language skills to allow for simple immersion provides young professionals with the self-confi - day-to-day communication on the bus or at the market. dence and experience to function in the global economy and Faculty and students with whom the American students usually provides them with a signifi cant competitive edge in interacted with professionally at the host institutions were the job market. typically fl uent in English.

24 October 2008 RESOURCE The students’ living arrangements varied greatly from The following excerpt provides a student’s perspective place to place and year to year. In Europe, students typi- of the program. It is an email from an Auburn University cally lived in off-campus apartments or residential hotels, biosystems engineering student who spent the summer of which required them to use public transportation daily to 2006 at the Technical University of Munich: reach the university. It also allowed them easy access to … Thank you for enabling me to be a part of the incredible shopping, cultural and historical sites, and night life. TAPAC program. The experience was very eye-opening and At work, the students’ responsibilities varied based on benefi cial in many ways. The trip to Germany was a once-in- their experience and knowledge. Typically students were a-lifetime opportunity, and I enjoyed it very much. That was associated with projects related to their interests, and my fi rst time outside of the United States, and I think on a their work was assigned so as to give them as much diverse global basis now, not just about North America. It was inter- experiential learning as possible within the confi nes of the esting to see how other cultures function, which puts a new semester-long exchange. Their work ranged from devel- perspective on our own culture. I know my work habits have oping a GIS database of the Botanical Garden of Padua improved, and I have made global connections for the future. (the oldest botanical garden in the world, begun in 1545) to The trip was unforgettable…. evaluating the effi cacy of variable-rate application of herbi- —Mack Moncus cides on peanuts. The former project was accomplished by Conner Trott, an Auburn University student at the University of Padua, while the later project was the master’s thesis project of Katia Rizzardi, an Italian student visiting the University of Georgia. American students participating in the program typically enrolled in an internship course at their home institution and earned up to three credits for this experience.

It wasn’t all work The students were encouraged to travel during weekends and public holidays, and many took advantage of this opportunity. During 2006, three of the students in Germany attended a World Cup match and, later that summer, were present at the fi nish of the Tour de France in Paris. The excellent European rail system made it easy and inexpensive to travel between cities and countries within the European Union. In addition to individual travel, during 2006, TAPAC faculty organized a driving tour of the American partner campuses, which began at the Atlantic Ocean and ended at the Mississippi River and Manuel Renga, a crop production student from the University was attended by many of the TAPAC faculty and all of the of Padua, uses the Crop Circle sensor to create refl ectance maps of peanuts at the University of Georgia. European students in the United States at that time. In 2007 and 2008, a similar 10-day tour was organized in Europe. When possible, students also attended precision agriculture The program not only broadened the horizons of the conferences. During the summer of 2007, for example, all students but also the faculty and staff who interacted with nine of the American students in Europe at the time and visiting students. At the University of Georgia, for example, several European student alumni of the program attended having Greek, German, and Italian students spending the Sixth European Conference on Precision Agriculture several months working with us in our research programs in Greece. Five of the students presented papers or posters offered those who have not had the opportunity to travel on their projects at the conference. All TAPAC faculty also abroad a unique window to the culture and traditions of attended the conference. Europe. Our experience has been nothing but positive, and These many opportunities to interact with colleagues and we strongly encourage students and faculty in all disciplines students from the six partner universities further solidifi ed to become engaged in international education activities. We the already strong partnership that existed between these owe it to ourselves and to our students. six institutions and built a level of trust that will greatly enhance our ability to work closely together in the future. But, most importantly, the TAPAC program provided the participating students with a deep appreciation of cultures, George Vellidis is professor and coordinator of research, extension and instruction – Tifton Campus, Department of life-long friendships, and the confi dence that they can live, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, University of Georgia, USA; work, and contribute to a global society. [email protected].

RESOURCE October 2008 25 UPDATE OOCTOBERCTOBER 20082008

Treating Hog Manure nursery rooms were left untreated so the team could compare gas emissions and indoor air quality. with Borax Cuts Odor Using molecular genetics tools, the team measured the Hydrogen sulfide is one of the compounds contrib- treatment’s effects on the manure’s resident SR bacterial uting to the stink from manure storage pits on hog population, which produces hydrogen sulfi de. This was farms. Microbial activity in the manure releases the possible thanks to the technology’s ability to detect and hydrogen sulfide and other compounds. quantitate a particular gene that distinguishes these At an American Society of Micro-biology meeting bacteria from other manure-loving microbes. in Boston, Mass., USDA Agricultural Research The team’s analyses of bacteria and air showed that the Service (ARS) scientist Cheryl Spence reported the borax treatments reduced SR populations by 99 percent results of a study in which “dusting” hog manure with after the fi rst week and reduced hydrogen sulfi de levels by borax powder—the same substance used in laundry 80 percent after six weeks. detergents—helps to neutralize the malodorous Borax offers a promising addition to the “bag of tools” microbes, which include sulfate-reducing (SR) and researchers are evaluating for manure-odor management other anaerobic bacteria. because the mineral is naturally occurring, fairly safe to handle, and readily available, notes Spence, with NCAUR’s Fermentation Biotechnology Research Unit. For more information, contact Jan Suszkiw, USDA-ARS public affairs specialist, [email protected]. ASABE Members’ Invention Saves a Life In July 2008, the Mendota, Ill., Fire Department Special Rescue Team extricated an individual trapped in grain. During the operation, the Liberty Grain Rescue Tube™ was deployed to provide a temporary containment system around the victim. The tube provided protection for the victim by preventing further infl ow of grain. Rescue workers were then able to safely remove the victim, resulting in a successful operation. The Liberty Rescue Tube™ Dusting pig manure with borax powder—the same substance used in laundry detergents—has been found to was invented and developed by owners of Liberty Rescue help to neutralize the microbes that cause the stink from Systems, LLC. ASABE members and owners include Dirk manure storage pits on hog farms. (Photo by Regis Lefebure, Maier, Bill Field, and Doug Kingman. Mill and Elevator courtesy of ARS) Supply is the distributor of the LRS tube. Each year incidents of engulfment in fl owing grain in Spence conducted the study with ARS colleagues on-farm and commercial grain storage structures are docu- Terry Whitehead and Mike Cotta at the agency’s National mented. Findings from studies of engulfment incidents have Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) shown that individuals have become fully and partially in Peoria, Ill., in collaboration with Michigan State engulfed in grain during the unloading of concrete silos, University (MSU) scientists, ASABE member Robert von corrugated bins, and transport vehicles. It has also been Bernuth, Melvin Yokoyama, and Sue Hengemuele, all in reported that rescue attempts of partially engulfed victims, East Lansing. The National Pork Board, headquartered those mostly covered by grain with head and mouth above in Des Moines, Iowa, helped fund the study. the grain surface, were complicated, lasted for several hours, Besides smelling foul, the hydrogen sulfi de, ammonia, and sometimes resulted in the death of the victim and even and other gases emitted by stored hog waste can diminish rescue workers. air quality. The disagreeable odors can also lead to tension In some cases, cofferdams were constructed to facil- between livestock producers and their neighbors. itate the extrication process and were made from plastic The ARS-MSU team treated manure pits beneath trashcans, plywood, rigid stretchers, fence posts, and even swine nursery rooms with a powder containing either 1 a circular portion of a hog feeder. Although an all-metal or 2 percent borax once a week for six weeks. Other swine prototype grain rescue tube was built in the 1980s, it was determined that a single section of the tube could not pass

26 October 2008 RESOURCE (EAR) device with state-of-art electronics. Their latest prototype is a doughnut-shaped stereo headset worn over each ear. Anderson’s headset design and his knowledge of range animal ecology have been combined with the MIT scientists’ elec- tronics skills in robotics and mobile computing. Prior to working with MIT, Anderson patented technology for virtual fencing termed Directional Virtual Fencing (DVF) that centered around giving cows “left” and “right” sensory signals to cause them to move away from an irritating suite The Training Tube Vacuum of cues. The researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and through the oval- or round-shaped entryways typically Artifi cial Intelligence Laboratory have developed and proto- found on corrugated grain bins. Because a viable rescue typed a miniaturized electronics package for DVF devices device was not identifi ed, an effort was initiated to develop that is solar-powered and packaged as a headset device. The a portable, inexpensive, and functional tube to facilitate the circuit board contains a processor, data storage, WiFi for extrication of a partially engulfed individual. remote communication, audio and electrical stimulation Several versions of a plastic rescue tube device were electronics, a GPS receiver, and sensors such as magnetom- constructed and tested. Testing included the extrication of eters and accelerometers that record the body orientation a mannequin that was engulfed in the outfl ow of grain while and confi guration of the animal. unloading equipment was operated. Rescue workers extri- cated the mannequin while using the interlocking, plastic tube sections. The device, which was inserted around the mannequin, thus eliminating the pressure exerted by the grain, was named the Liberty Tube™ after an extrication exercise was conducted in West Liberty, Ohio. Resource readers may recall our September 2004 special issue on ergonomics, safety, and health, in which the Liberty Tube prototype was fi rst featured. A Futuristic Linkage of Animals and Electronics The same Global Positioning System (GPS) tech- nology used to track vehicles is now being used to track cows. But ARS animal scientist Dean M. Anderson has taken tracking several steps further with a Walkman-like headset that enables him to “whisper” wireless commands to cows ARS scientists are helping to develop technology that will not only track cattle with a GPS, like these Herefords on ARS’ to control their movements across a landscape—and even Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory near remotely gather them into a corral. Miles City, Mont., but may also allow their movements to be He and his colleagues realize this is a highly futuristic controlled across a landscape—and even be remotely rounded technology, but they can envision a time when these tech- up into a corral. (Photo by Keith Weller, courtesy of ARS) nologies will be affordable and useful for a range of appli- cations, from intensive animal operations to monitoring The commands vary from familiar “gathering songs” and controlling the movements of some wildlife species sung by cowboys during manual round-ups, to irritating and even household pets. sounds such as sirens, and even mild electric stimulation Anderson, at the ARS Jornada Experimental Range in if necessary to get cows to move or avoid penetrating Las Cruces, N.M., is working with Daniela Rus and a team forbidden boundaries. of engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology For more information contact Don Comis, USDA-ARS (MIT) in Cambridge, Mass., to equip an Ear-A-Round public affairs specialist, [email protected].

RESOURCE October 2008 27 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Resource is published eight times per year: February, April, May, June, July, September, October, and November. The deadline for ad copy to be received at ASABE is four weeks before the issue’s publishing date. Advertisements are $125 per column-inch length (column width is 3.5 inches) and include free placement on the ASABE Career Center at www.asabe.org/membership/careercenter.htm. The minimum ad size is two inches — approximately 100 words — to qualify for the free online listing. Ads are posted on the Web site within three business days of final approval and remain there for 30 days. If the insertion order is for two months, the cost is $110 per column inch per insertion and includes a 60-day free Web listing. For more details on this service, contact Melissa Miller, ASABE Professional Opportunities, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085- 9659, USA; 269-429-0300 ext. 317, fax 269-429-3852, [email protected], or visit www.asabe.org/resource/persads.html.

FACULTY POSITION IN FACULTY POSITION IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT GRAIN QUALITY & STORED PRODUCT PROTECTION POSITION: Assistant Professor of Agricultural Systems POSITION: Assistant Professor of Agricultural & Biological Management Engineering and Extension Engineer RESPONSIBILITIES: Responsibilities include teaching and RESPONSIBILITIES: The Department of Agricultural and Biological research benefiting agriculture in general and Indiana agriculture Engineering is currently seeking applications for a 9-month tenure- specifically, and developing a strong, externally funded program track position at the Assistant Professor level in the area of post- resulting in internationally recognized, high impact scholarship. The harvest grain quality and stored product protection engineering. candidate will develop an innovative teaching program for under- This position is part of an established internationally recognized graduates and graduates. Topics to be covered include production multi-disciplinary research, extension and technology transfer pro- machinery and integration of precision agriculture technologies and gram in Purdue University’s Post-Harvest Education & Research other courses to meet the teaching needs of the department and the Center. The successful candidate is expected to establish an inter- expertise of the new hire. Opportunities to develop graduate level nationally recognized applied research program that supports an courses in systems management exist. Possible areas of special- effective extension education and technology transfer effort. ization include: sensors and controls for improving production of Potential areas of research include engineered technologies for the row-crop, biomass, and/or horticultural crops; integration of remote protection of stored products and the delivery of identity-preserved, sensing and spatial data with other farm management tools; imple- traceable and biosecure quality grains and biorefinery co-products ment automation and control; material application technologies; to the food, feed, biomaterials, and biofuels processing industries. development of protocols to help ensure optimal operational effi- The successful candidate is expected to collaborate effectively with ciency during production, transport, storage, and processing; and other faculty in a highly interdisciplinary effort to address post-har- the application of information technology for machine and facilities vest issues. The individual will engage industry, along with local, optimization. Another aspect of this position is to engage with state, national or international government or non-government industry, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, agencies, and other stakeholders, to identify key issues, and lead and other stakeholders to find, develop and promote innovative and Purdue’s Extension efforts in delivering knowledge on grain quality effective technologies as appropriate. This is an academic year, and stored product protection technology to producers and proces- tenure track, teaching and research position. sors. It is expected that the individual will develop a successful QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Agricultural externally-funded and well-documented applied research and out- Systems Management, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, or a reach program that addresses technology transfer and continuing related discipline. Excellent oral and written communication skills education needs in post-harvest grain quality and stored product are a must; teaching and research experience and experience in protection and will contribute to teaching as appropriate. production agriculture or industry are highly desirable. QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in engi- CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Review of applications will neering, technology or science, excellent communication and grant begin October 31, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. writing skills, and research and/or outreach experience in an aca- APPLICATION MATERIALS: Letter of interest, resume, official aca- demic or industrial environment. demic transcripts, statement of teaching and research philosophies, CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Review of applications will and names, addresses and phone numbers of three references. begin October 31, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. Applications should be submitted electronically to APPLICATION MATERIALS: Letter of interest, resume, official aca- [email protected]. demic transcripts, statement of extension and research philoso- CONTACT: Dr. Bill Field, ASM Search Committee, Email: phies, and names, addresses and phone numbers of three [email protected] or phone (765) 494-1191. references. Applications should be submitted electronically to For additional information see http://www.purdue.edu/ABE. [email protected]. PURDUE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL CONTACT: Dr. Richard Stroshine, Search Committee Chair, email: ACCESS/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER FULLY COMMIT- [email protected] or Phone: (765) 494-1192. TED TO ACHIEVING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE. For additional information see http://www.purdue.edu/ABE. PURDUE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL ACCESS/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER FULLY COMMIT- TED TO ACHIEVING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.

28 October 2008 RESOURCE The ASABE ASSISTANT EXTENSION PROFESSOR LIVESTOCK/GREENHOUSE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING Career Center Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, www.asabe.org/membership/careercenter.htm University of Kentucky, www.bae.uky.edu The most comprehensive CAREER AND RECRUITING JOB DESCRIPTION & RESPONSIBILITIES: The position is 12- SITE for the agricultural, biological, and food engineering month, tenure track Extension Series. The successful candidate is industries is now available for your use. The Career Center expected to develop a nationally recognized Extension (60-75%) offers extensive résumé and position databases, and power- and Research (25-40%) program with a primary emphasis on engi- ful and user-friendly searching capabilities, which allow you neering for livestock, equine, poultry or greenhouse production sys- to find the job or candidate you’re looking for! tems, while providing support for all areas. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing statewide extension programs with supporting educational materi- JOB SEEKERS als for extension personnel, commodity groups, producers, and industry and agribusiness personnel. Further duties include con- • The ASABE Career Center is dedicated exclusively to the ducting applied research; procuring external funding to assist in agricultural, biological, and food engineering industries and program support and research projects; publishing recommenda- it is free. tions and results in appropriate scholarly journals and media; advis- • Receive automatic notification of new jobs matching your ing graduate students; and organizing workshops, tours, field days criteria. in support of research and extension programs. Regional and • Post your résumé – confidentially, if preferred – so employ- national interdisciplinary extension and research programs are ers can actively search for you. encouraged. Teaching opportunities can be pursued and are encouraged. Potential programs can be developed in the areas of EMPLOYERS structures, equipment, facilities, controlled environment systems, • Post your job to the largest exclusive audience of industry high-value greenhouse and tunnel systems, animal care and han- professionals. dling systems, or air quality issues relevant to the state’s agriculture. • Online management of job postings, including activity QUALIFICATIONS: reports. • Candidates should have an earned doctorate in Biological or • Access to a searchable résumé database. Agricultural Engineering or related area. • Competitive job-posting pricing. • Have strong communications skills (both written and oral). • Have education and experience in poultry, livestock or green- Visit www.asabe.org/membership/careercenter.htm house production systems engineering (all three preferred; at and start using the ASABE Career Center least one required). to make your career connections! • Have demonstrated ability to work with other engineering/com- modity specialists, research faculty, producers and public, pri- vate and governmental agencies. Preference will be given to candidates who are eligible for registration as a Professional Engineer. is GREEN SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary is negotiable and commensurate with qualifications and experience. APPLICATION: Applications will be accepted through Nov. 14, 2008, or until a suitable candidate is found. Qualified applicants will be required to submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae includ- ing a list of publications, college transcripts, and contact informa- tion for at least four professional persons who have agreed to write a letter of reference. Application submissions will be handled on-line through Human Resources at the University of Kentucky (http://www.uky.edu/HR/). For additional questions please contact: Dr. Scott A. Shearer, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Over 5,000 articles in 128 C.E. Barnhart Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0276, Voice: 859.257.3000 x 127, Fax: 859.257.5671, e-mail: ecology journals contain [email protected]. The University of Kentucky is an Equal Opportunities Employer graphs and analyses and encourages application from women and minorities. produced by SYSTAT.

www.systat.com

RESOURCE October 2008 29 382200_Systat.indd 1 5/7/08 10:04:12 PM PROFESSIONAL LISTINGS

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30 October 2008 RESOURCE LAST WORD A Call to Action

What have you done lately for the betterment of • Volunteer to serve as a judge for one of the ASABE? Taking liberty with a quote from the 35th Preprofessional (i.e., college student) competitions. “American President: “…ask not what your Society can do There are reports for most of the competitions that you for you—ask what you can do for your Society!” Webster can judge from the comfort of your own couch. Contact defi nes Society as “an organized group working together ASABE Membership Director Mark Crossley at because of common interests, beliefs, or profession.” It (269) 428-6323 to fi nd out more. does not say “a group whose needs are met by a paid staff • Serve on one of the 177 technical committees that of 25 and a handful of active members.” If we want our organize technical sessions at meetings and conferences, Society to prosper and grow, every member needs to fi nd discuss technical issues, and/or develop ASABE stan- a way to contribute. What can you do to promote and dards. Join one of the 41 non-technical committees that improve ASABE? range from selecting award recipients to helping organize • Take the Agricultural Principles and Practice of student competitions. You do not have to be selected or Engineering Examination (PE Exam). Many members asked to serve on most of these committees; just contact work in fi elds related to another engineering profession, the chair. Log on to the ASABE Web site and choose such as civil or mechanical engineering, so it may seem “Search ASABE committees” to fi nd committee chair easier to take a civil or mechanical exam. However, contact information. the ag PE is in danger of being eliminated due to low • Get involved in your local section to network with people numbers of exam-takers. When you consider whether in your state or region. The chair of your section would or not to take the PE, think about the education you love to have your help and ideas. received as an ag or bio engineer, the program that • Remember: It is the responsibility of every ASABE set you on this career path, or the fi eld (pun intended) member to help those who follow after them. The that you work in. Think about the lack of credibility Preprofessionals and Young Professionals are not typi- your degree and profession would receive (in industry, cally inclined to build their networks by approaching academic, consulting, and other venues) without an you. Take it upon yourself to interact with these very accrediting examination. important members. In Reno, go to the AIM Industry/ • Call the department of the school you graduated from and Student mixer and engage younger engineers in conver- volunteer to sit on their advisory board, which will allow sation. Ask about their interests, future plans, etc. you to give insight into what is needed in today’s industry. Or contact Mark Crossley and discuss the ASABE • Sit down with the HR representatives from your company mentoring program. You can help set the next wave of and explain what ag/bio engineers do, the types of classes agricultural and biological engineers on the path to they take, and why they make good employees. Remind success and ensure their continued involvement with them that you are an ag/bio engineer, succeeding with your professional society. your company; it is probable that other ag/bio engineers • Get creative! There are so many more ways that you can also benefi t the company. can give to the profession. I’m not out of ideas, just out • Volunteer for school visits that your company organizes of space! for E-Week. (If they don’t participate in E-Week, offer to When talking about my continued involvement in start a program.) When you go, proudly tell students that ASABE with my employer, other members, and other ag/ you are an ag/bio engineer and why they should consider bio engineers who are not members, I am asked, “What do the profession. you get out of ASABE?” We live in a self-centered culture • When you meet outstanding high school students, tell where “me, myself, and I” tend to be the justifi cation for them about the profession and offer to arrange a tour doing anything. I challenge that notion. Most meaningful of the ag/bio engineering department at the nearest in the 10 years that I have been a member is what I have university. If you don’t tell them about agricultural and given, not what I have received. I encourage you to fi nd the biological engineering, who will? same meaning by getting involved today!

ASABE member Becky Meyer is a water resource engineer with CH2M Hill, Colorado Springs, Colo., USA; [email protected]. She is currently a member of SW-225 and SW-25, the Young Professionals Community Representative to the Membership Development Council, and District 4 Representative on the Nominating Committee. She is a past chair of P-121, the current secretary/treasurer of the Rocky Mountain Section, and formerly served as an advisor, Oklahoma State University ASABE Student Branch.

RESOURCE October 2008 31 SAVESAVE THETHE DATE!DATE!

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