Some are extensions of existing research and development efforts at the laboratory that, given additional investment and a new focus, have the potential to deliver effective solutions for some of the problems facing the agriculture and food processing industries. Pacific Northwest's efforts are focusing on the creation of small, multi-functional detection units that can be deployed at various points along the food production supply chain. As envisioned, and depending on the particular application, the units will use a variety of analytical techniques such as optical spectroscopy, nucleic acid analysis and mass spectrometry to identify quickly and measure bacteria and other pathogens present in the food processing environment. Industrially important enzymes such as cellulases, lipases and proteases, which are used in multiple chemical, industrial and consumer products applications, typically are expensive to produce using existing fermentation methods. By combining cost-efficient farming methods with cutting edge molecular biology techniques, crop plants may be developed to produce the enzymes for a fraction of the cost.
Genetic engineering offers many other possibilities.
Efforts also are under way at Pacific Northwest to develop plants capable of manufacturing blood proteins. The proteins would be used as replacement therapies for a number of blood deficiencies in human patients, but would not transmit diseases associated with plasma purification. On yet another front, researchers are trying to extend genetic engineering techniques to specialized yeast strains, which would feed on agricultural waste products and, in the process, produce industrial enzymes and food and animal feed supplements. Value-Added Processes Pacific Northwest researchers are exploring the potential of various food processing waste streams, byproducts and even agricultural crops to provide feedstock material for biomass conversion processes. In the past, research generally has focused on conversion of biomass to fuels, but in more recent years the emphasis has shifted to higher-value products such as chemicals.