ARS research has contributed to improved crop yields and more environmentally sensitive farming techniques. But the impact of ARS research extends far beyond the farm gate.
Agricultural research is as much about human health as it is about growing corn.
For example, ARS recently developed a fat substitute called Oatrim. Not only does this technology benefit farmers by providing a new use for oats, it also enables processors to produce tastier low-fat foods. ARS research is also as much about development of industrial products such as printing ink from soybeans and other crops as it is about development of high-yielding wheat varieties. And like Oatrim, printing inks made from 100-percent soybean oil instead of petroleum solve more than one problem. Unlike petroleum, soybeans are a renewable resource, and this technology diversifies markets for soybean farmers and choices for ink manufacturers and printers.