Montana State University |
Montana State University |
BOZEMAN -- A Montana institute to develop biobased products came one step closer to reality recently when Northwest Farm Credit Services pledged $50,000 to help the project along.
"We're owned by our borrowers, and we understand that research is vital to the future of agriculture and our customers," says Jay Penick, president and chief executive office of Northwest Farm Credit Services.
When completed, the Institute for Biobased Products and Food Science will be a part of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station at Montana State University-Bozeman. It will work with Montanans to develop products from both traditional and alternative Montana crops. Before construction can be scheduled, the College of Agriculture will need to raise $15 million for design and construction of the facility that will house the institute.
"It won't be just an MSU-Bozeman unit," says Sharron Quisenberry, dean of the MSU College of Agriculture and director of the experiment station. It will work with other state and federal agencies as well as other Montana institutions, such as the Montana Department of Agriculture and Commerce, the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center and USDA units.
"Montana's future depends on the development of value-added products that have a competitive edge in the global marketplace," says Quisenberry. "The institute will provide the science-based education, research and extension programs needed to build a biobased and food economy."
Products that might be developed at the institute include plant-based fuels, lubricants, pharmaceuticals and value-added products that use Montana ingredients. Institute staff would work on everything from food safety and risk assessment to product testing and producer training.
Northwest Farm Credit Services is a producer-owned cooperative specializing in financing to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, commercial fishermen, timber producers and country home owners in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.
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Send questions or comments to Carol Flaherty, MSU Communications Services, Bozeman, MT 59717 or email Flaherty at carolf@montana.edu.
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