One thing never changes about our department – the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students to making a positive (and often very direct) impact on our stakeholders and society at large. It truly is in our DNA, our history, our present, and our vision for the future. It is embedded in our shared mission (To improve quality of life…). In the features linked below, you will see just a few examples of how our faculty are partnering with our stakeholder industries through applied research, testing, and outreach, and two of our faculty who were recently recognized with distinguished awards for their innovative and impactful body of scholarly work.  

In food systems, consumers drive many of the changes producers make in their production practices. This change can be seen in both food and animal production, and poultry production is no exception. Breast meat, also known as white meat, is generally considered healthier and more desirable to consumers. Producers have been selecting birds for larger breasts to get more meat per bird. This meets consumer demands but has come with new challenges. 

“The poultry processing industry is operating on small margins.” said BAE assistant professor Yuzhen Lu. “This industry has a notoriously high labor turnover rate. Processors are under mounting pressure to reduce labor dependence and costs while delivering higher quality products, to remain competitive and profitable.”

Wei Liao, Ph.D., received the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Distinguished Faculty Award at the March 1 ANR Awards Program.

Globally recognized as a leading biosystems researcher, Liao is a professor in the Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering (BAE) at MSU. Liao started his career at MSU in 2007 after earning his Ph.D. in Biological Systems Engineering from Washington State University in 2005. Liao’s research focuses on the integration of solar, biological and nano technologies for waste treatment and value-added fuels/chemical production. He also works on algal cultivation to reclaim water and generate value-added products, as well as innovative anaerobic cultivation systems to convert organic residues to renewable energy and other bioproducts.

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Finding ways to create renewable energy with existing natural resources is a key way to have a sustainable energy source in the future. The Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center (ADREC) at Michigan State University (MSU) is working towards that goal, and many others to create a more climate-smart agriculture and industry. ADREC was founded in 2008, and provides research, professional development, and outreach support for waste-to-energy systems, including bench top, pilot-scale and commercial anaerobic digestion systems. 

“In ADREC, we are not only carrying out standard biological tests of the samples, but also help the clients use and understand the results correctly.” said BAE faculty member Sibel Uludag-Demirer, Ph.D. “We also carry out research that is focused on anaerobic digester performance optimization and operate pilot scale digesters for specific feedstocks at the optimum conditions. In ADREC, we develop unique tailored proposals based on the needs of clients, and provide consultation to evaluate the outcomes.”  

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BAE professor Evangelyn Alocilja, has been named Senior Member by the National Academy of Inventors. 

“My passion is to find solutions to challenging societal problems, especially for those needing the most help,” said Evangelyn Alocilja, a professor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Engineering. Alocilja develops biological sensors that can diagnose infectious and antimicrobial resistant diseases earlier.  

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