New and improved food and non-food uses for waste products will contribute to economic development and benefit the environment. Processing technologies also can reduce the amount of byproducts and residuals or create safe and cost effective new uses. The Southern Region is an especially heavy producer of forest and agricultural byproducts which can be turned from waste to useful products. The products of vertically integrated animal and poultry agriculture are notable examples. Cross-utilization of byproducts between various segments of the food production and processing sectors in the South offer unique opportunities to reduce environmental impact and increase income.
Objectives Create waste-reducing technologies.
Create cost-effective, environmentally sound processing technologies which alter agricultural and forestry materials to reduce the amount of byproducts and residuals. Determine properties of waste. Develop quantitative methods for determining physicochemical properties of byproducts and residuals to monitor and control safety and quality attributes of products developed from them. Develop and utilize rapid analytical methods and in-line sensors to routinely quantify byproduct components and residuals. Develop methods to maintain quality.