Ag Research Supports People

July 19, 2019

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its annual Technology Transfer Report highlighting innovations from scientists and researchers that solve problems for farmers and create opportunities for businesses to thrive.

According to the report, 320 new inventions were developed at USDA laboratories in fiscal year 2018, along with 471 licenses, 120 patent applications and 67 actual patents.

“Long before anyone ever coined the modern-day phrase of ‘technology transfer,’ it was part of the culture at USDA to deliver solutions to the people of America,” said Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

“Studies show that every dollar invested in agricultural research returns $20 to our economy.”

Innovation highlights mentioned in the report include:

  • A system for removing nitrate from contaminated water and recycling it for re-use as fertilizer.
  • A treatment for peanut allergy.
  • A test strip for major foodborne pathogens that reduces testing time from 24-72 hours to about 30 minutes, allowing food to be tested more often at less expense.
  • The discovery of a hormone – asprosin – that controls the desire to eat, making it a potential tool for the prevention and treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

(Photo courtesy of Keith Weller, USDA/ARS)