Latest news with #CollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciences
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Researchers make incredible discovery about chickens that could help keep grocery prices down: 'We need to differentiate'
Researchers at Cornell University found that feeding chickens grape waste made them less susceptible to diseases. According to the gut health of chickens can open them up to disease. The poultry industry relies on the mass production of chickens, but when chickens get sick and there are fewer chickens, the prices increase in stores. Corresponding author and department of food science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, associate professor Elad Tako, said, "Inflammation weakens the immune system and opens the birds to other pathogens such as avian flu." Grape pomace is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, so the researchers set out to see just how true that was. Their findings were published in the Journal of Functional Foods. They injected the grape pomace into "amniotic fluid in chicken eggs to induce inflammation, and then a second one of a grape pomace extract to intervene," per Co-author and doctoral food science student, Melissa Huang, said the grape pomace did improve gut inflammation symptoms and intestinal health. In the U.S., the grape industry produces one million pounds of grape pomace waste yearly. What's left over from wine and juice production is stalks, seeds, and grape skins. While some of this is put into animal feeds or made into a fertilizer, much of it ends up in a landfill. According to "nearly three-quarters of production costs are bound up in what the birds eat." So, finding a way to utilize leftover grape pomace is not only a low-cost way for the birds' health, but also stops it from going into a landfill. When birds get sick, it doesn't just cause prices to go up on eggs. WGCU said it's also a threat to biodiversity. What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time Not enough space It seems too hard I have a garden already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. It said bird flu has been growing fast recently and "has infected more than 500 species, including 485 avian and at least 70 mammalian." Some animals that have contracted it are dolphins, seals, foxes, and skunks. Many end up dead or have neurological symptoms. While this is a significant win for keeping animals healthy, Huang said further investigation is needed to optimize the anti-inflammatory effects of grape pomace. She said, "Studies show that fiber and polyphenols, on their own, can affect inflammation. We need to differentiate which specific compounds in grape pomace are making this difference." Reducing reliance on poultry is another way to reduce the risk of the threat to biodiversity. You can do that by exploring plant-based food options. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers develop revolutionary replacement for ubiquitous product packaging: 'This is just the beginning'
Researchers from Virginia Tech might have just revolutionized food packaging. The research team, from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources and Environment, found a way to strengthen otherwise flimsy biodegradable packaging. This news couldn't come sooner. Plastic packaging (along with most plastic products) can spell bad news for your health. Though the long-term effects haven't yet been studied, the American Lung Association reports a correlation between microplastics and chronic lung disease. These tiny plastic particles come from anything made from the substance, from single-use water bottles to — you guessed it — plastic packaging. If plastic packaging is so bad for your health, then why is it so widespread? Haibo Huang, an associate professor at the university, told Virginia Tech News, "Biodegradable packaging materials are gaining interest as alternatives, but they often struggle to match the performance properties of petroleum-based plastic." The only leg up biodegradable packaging has historically had on its plastic counterpart is its environmental benefits. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, plastic waste can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. During that window of time, it sheds microplastics, which hurt animals' health, too. Now, though, biodegradable packaging might just become the new norm. Researchers used low-pressure cycles on cellulose, with resounding success. The packaging's transparency, durability, and gas barriers (which prevent oxygen from spoiling food) were all improved. The researchers are already looking to scale the project. And they're not the only ones interested in more eco-friendly packaging. U.K.-based Notpla is pushing seaweed-based edible packaging as the next big thing. And an Australian company, The Packaging People, sells sustainable packaging solutions to e-commerce businesses. Young Kim, Virginia Tech professor and project investigator, put it best. As he told Virginia Tech News, "This is just the beginning." When you think about a product's packaging, which of these factors is more important to you? The way it looks The information it provides The waste it produces I don't think about packaging at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Community-backed petition fails to save Insect Zoo from closure
AMES, Iowa — Despite the support from thousands, the Insect Zoo at Iowa State University will remain closed. Last month, the university's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences announced the closure of the Insect Zoo because of its budget deficit. The impact that the Insect Zoo had on Iowans in the last 30-years quickly came to the limelight after one Des Moines mom, Justine Bailey, started a petition to save the zoo. She made it because her kids grew up attending its programs, and those experiences directly influenced their decisions to now becoming engineers. 'My family is full of smart, nerdy kids,' said Bailey. 'Many other kids have sports and other activities to rely on, but for kids whose main interest is things in the STEM field, this is something that really got them excited.' She said the state of Iowa doesn't have anything quite like the Insect Zoo. In just the last 13-years, over 90 students at Iowa State University helped reach over 500,000 people through the zoo, according to the petition. The petition garnered over 3,300 signatures and around 130 comments and videos from current students, alumni, and visitors who shared the importance of the zoo. One video response came from an alumna who shared that her experience working at the zoo ten years ago is the reason she perused her masters and doctorate in her field. She ended her video statement with, 'We must protect the zoo.' Another video response came from a mother who said her 13-year-old son first visited the zoo when he was nine. Now, his bedroom is inspired by nature. She even showed his wallpaper that depicts a waterfall. She said he plans to attend Iowa State in the future to study entomology. She concluded her video statement with, 'Please save the zoo. It makes a difference.' Despite the community support, Iowa State University will follow through with the closure. In a statement sent to WHO 13 News, the university said: 'The decision to close the Insect Zoo is final and programming ended on April 27. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences continues to explore opportunities for insect education and outreach. While difficult, the college made the decision to close the Insect Zoo after a review determined its budget model was no longer viable.' It's not clear yet where the insects will go, but the university previously told WHO 13 News that they are working to find all of the insects a home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
College grads may have a harder time finding jobs with current economy, experts say
AMES, Iowa — A Career Services Director at Iowa State University said job opportunities are out there, but students have to try harder to find them. For over two decades, Mike Gaul has served as a Career Services Director at Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He has helped thousands of students find internship and job opportunities within the agriculture industry. Gaul noticed two things this past fall semester that may be indicative of the job market. The first was that fewer companies were coming to campus for job recruitment than in previous years. Also, fewer seniors were coming back from summer internships with job offers than normal. Iowa farmers bracing for potential impacts from tariffs As a result, Gaul said college graduates may have a harder time finding work opportunities this year. Part of this is because of the rising unemployment rate. According to a news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate rose to 4.1% in February. In the Hawkeye State, the latest data of the unemployment rate says 3.3% of Iowans are without work, according to Iowa Works. This can create higher competition for entry-level jobs. 'Some of the major agribusinesses have let people go in the last six to ten months, some large co-ops in the state. There's an abundance of talented people out there that are also looking for jobs, and we didn't even touch on what's going on with the federal government. So, there could be a potential abundance of people looking for jobs out there, which even adds to the difficulty of the search for students coming out of college right now,' said Gaul. The Iowa Democratic Party outlined several reports of layoffs among Iowa's agriculture businesses within the last year. Gaul compared the experience of graduating seniors this year to those who graduated in 2009 in the middle of the Global Recession, but he said there's hope for this year. How Iowa colleges are navigating DEI opposition 'I think this time, knock on wood, we hope the economy bounces back a little stronger. I think we're very top heavy in many sectors of baby boomers that are going to be retiring,' he said. Students may find themselves using all of their resources in order to find full-time jobs post-grad. Gaul said this can be things like visiting Career Services more often or networking more. 'It's a full-time job finding a full-time job. So, you really have to devote your time, your resources to finding these things,' he said. 'The glory days of the last couple years are behind us and it does take some inertia to get into the game and really get after it.' Despite the possible setbacks, there are job opportunities available. According to the Iowa Workforce Development's Top 25 Job Postings, there is a need for jobs in the healthcare industry. There are 3,558 job openings for Registered Nurses followed by 743 openings for nursing assistants in the state as of March. College grads may have a harder time finding jobs with current economy, experts say Storms still on the horizon for Friday Special election results for Iowa House District 100 Iowa farmers bracing for potential impacts from tariffs Iowa man stabbed victim and then set victim's home on fire, sheriff says Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
