1.1: Knowledge and Technologies

Provide the Science-Based Knowledge and Technologies To Generate New or Improved High Quality, Value-Added Products and Processes To Expand Domestic and Foreign Markets for Agricultural Commodities

Other Information:

Intense competition in the global marketplace and pressure on U.S. farm policy to reduce price supports emphasize the need for U.S. agriculture to pursue and market higher value agricultural products. U.S. renewable agricultural and forestry resources provide an abundant source of raw material for value-added food, fiber, industrial products, and fuels. ARS can make important contributions in developing new and improved value-added products from U.S. agriculture through research and development and effectively demonstrating and transferring to customers the knowledge necessary to provide new marketable agricultural products, generate new uses, implement value‑added processes, and effect product quality enhancements. New products, new uses, and value‑added processes that appeal to consumers will create additional demand‑driven need for agricultural production, thus providing more opportunities for agricultural producers and businesses. Biobased technologies promise new opportunities for energy, industrial, and pharmacological markets for U.S. farmers. New markets are emerging for environmental activities and products that mitigate environmental concerns. The cornerstones for all of these advances are the timely, relevant, and quality research activities that form the foundation on which new products are developed and the outreach activities that help establish these new products in both the domestic and foreign marketplace. Performance Measures: 1.1.1: Develop cost effective and functional industrial and consumer products from agricultural and forestry resources. Baseline: 2002 – Biobased products represent a small fraction of the market for industrial products. Performance of biobased products is uncertain. Some biobased products are not economically competitive with petroleum-based products. Target: 2007 – Functional performance of biobased products that is similar to or superior to petroleum-based products. Cost parity between biobased products and petroleum-based products. Significantly improved penetration of markets for products traditionally made from petrochemicals with biobased products. Enhanced markets for agricultural products and residues. Stimulation of economies, especially in rural areas. 1.1.2: Provide higher quality, healthy foods that satisfy consumer needs in the United States and abroad. Baseline: 2002 – Many agricultural products are marketed as low-value commodities. Harvested commodities often suffer large postharvest losses due to spoilage or damage during handling. Healthy foods are often not convenient to consumer and/or are not highly acceptable to significant numbers of consumers. Many foreign markets are closed to U.S. commodities because of quarantines erected by other countries. Target: 2007 – Export higher value food crops and products. Extend quality and shelf life of fresh and minimally processed foods. Provide consumers with convenient, highly acceptable, healthy foods. Quarantine issues are resolved, and foreign markets are opened. 1.1.3: Improve efficiency and reduce cost for conversion of biomass to energy. Baseline: 2002 – Biofuels are currently not economically competitive with petroleum fuels. Biomass is difficult to convert into fermentable sugars. Biodiesel quality factors need improvement. Target: 2007 – Produce biofuels with life cycle benefits similar or superior to petroleum fuels. Improved conversion of recalcitrant biomass to fermentable sugars. Biodiesel quality similar to or superior to petrodiesel.

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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