Ms. Bailey serves as Program Director for research and development of agricultural materials used in the manufacture of industrial, nonfood products She administers federal appropriations to conduct research on new crops, new uses for conventional crops, processing operations to convert crop materials to industrial products or chemical intermediates, product development and marketing activities.
Funding is provided primarily to land grant institutions.
Cooperative projects are also conducted with other universities, government agencies, and commercial companies. Use of agricultural-based materials as feedstock in the manufacture of industrial products results in products that offer performance advantages and are in most cases environmentally friendly, biodegradable or can be recycled. Products include nonwood paper, plastics, paints, coatings, packaging, lubricants, solvents, and biodiesel fuel. As NPL for agricultural materials, Ms. Bailey provides liaison between academia, the private sector and government to promote commercialization and market expansion of industrial products from agriculture.