This includes products for feed, as well as for high value niche markets like novel carbohydrates and oils.
Research is focused on all primary seed components - protein, oil and carbohydrates.
The overall goal is to continually improve quality and value for major U. S. and international grain crops. Feed improvement research aims to increase the availability of energy and phosphorus, and to improve the amino acid balance of maize grain and soybean meal. Industrial product research includes improved grain for the wet milling industry as well as the production of novel polymers and chemicals. Pioneer researchers in this group also work to improve oil quality for human food and industrial uses. Researchers involved in this effort use a variety of technologies including cell and molecular biology, and biochemistry.