Southern Regional Research Center: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Agricultural research laboratory in New Orleans, Louisiana, US}} | {{short description|Agricultural research laboratory in New Orleans, Louisiana, US}} | ||
The '''United States Department of Agriculture Southern Regional Research Center''' ('''SRRC''') is one of four regional laboratories within the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]'s [[Agricultural Research Service]]. | The '''United States Department of Agriculture Southern Regional Research Center''' ('''SRRC''') is one of four regional laboratories within the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]'s [[Agricultural Research Service]]. | ||
Principal research areas of the SRRC include: | |||
* [[food safety]], | |||
* global food security, | |||
* [[climate change]], | |||
* [[biofuels]], | |||
* agricultural sustainability, | |||
* health and nutrition. | |||
The SRRC laboratory | It furthermore emphasizes improved product quality of natural fibers especially cotton, according to the SRRC's mission statement.<ref name="mission">[http://www.ars.usda.gov/AboutUs/AboutUs.htm?modecode=64-35-00-00 Southern Regional Research Center Mission Statement], version of February 1, 2013.</ref> | ||
== Location == | |||
The SRRC laboratory is located at 1100 Allen Toussaint Blvd, New Orleans, [[Louisiana]] 70124-4305 (Latitude 30.01881, Longitude -90.08952). | |||
== Budget and staff == | |||
It has an annual budget of approximately $25 million, employing 70 scientists and 130 other people in laboratory support roles.<ref name="Cleveland">[http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/64350000/ClevelandSRRCOverview.pdf SRRC Overview and History], accessed February 1, 2013.</ref> | |||
== History == | |||
The SRRC laboratory was established as a result of the [[Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938]] by the [[United States Congress]]. Construction on the laboratory commenced in 1939 at its current 40 acre (162,000 m<sup>2</sup>) building site, a tract in the northeast corner of City Park on Allen Toussaint Boulevard near Bayou St. John, New Orleans, Louisiana. The laboratory opened in 1941. | |||
Research at the laboratory initially emphasized crops in the southern United States that were produced in surplus, especially cotton, [[sweet potato]], and peanuts. The history of the laboratory is documented on-line by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.<ref name="Arthur">Jett C. Arthur, Jr., [http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/site_main.htm?docid=2789 History of the Southern Regional Research Center], accessed January 31, 2013.</ref> The laboratory was designated a [http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_TRANSITIONMAIN&node_id=924&use_sec=false&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid=61e34adc-0d8b-4eac-8c03-e2501003e30f National Historic Chemical Landmark] in May 2004.<ref name="landmark">[http://portal.acs.org/portal/PublicWebSite/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/cottonproducts/index.htm American Chemical Society National Historic Chemical Landmarks. Cotton Products Research] (accessed February 2, 2013).</ref> | |||
== Agricultural Research Service regional research centers == | |||
The other regional research centers in the Agricultural Research Service are: | |||
* [[Western Regional Research Center]] (WRRC) in Albany, California; | |||
* [[National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research]] (NCAUR) in Peoria, Illinois; | |||
* [[Eastern Regional Research Center]] (ERRC) in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. | |||
Additionally SRRC has had affiliation with field stations. | |||
==Scientific achievements, discoveries, and inventions== | ==Scientific achievements, discoveries, and inventions== | ||
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SRRC researchers invented other improvements to cotton fabrics including imparting flame and heat resistance, [[antibacterial]] properties, oil resistance, and a stretchy version of cotton fabrics. They invented cotton tire cord and light-weighting tarpaulin materials by incorporating cotton into the materials. They improved printing processes for cotton textiles, as well as mechanical processing equipment for use by textile mills.<ref name=summary>[http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/site_main.htm?docid=2792 Seventy-one years of SRRC service], accessed February 7, 2013.</ref> | SRRC researchers invented other improvements to cotton fabrics including imparting flame and heat resistance, [[antibacterial]] properties, oil resistance, and a stretchy version of cotton fabrics. They invented cotton tire cord and light-weighting tarpaulin materials by incorporating cotton into the materials. They improved printing processes for cotton textiles, as well as mechanical processing equipment for use by textile mills.<ref name=summary>[http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/site_main.htm?docid=2792 Seventy-one years of SRRC service], accessed February 7, 2013.</ref> | ||
Contributions of the laboratory to food safety include detection and detoxification of [[aflatoxin]] in [[cottonseed]] and peanuts, in addition to [[gossypol]] analysis of cottonseed. Inventions from the laboratory provided improved food quality and [[processed food]] quality. These inventions included high protein rice flour, edible rice bran oil, cottonseed oil with food characteristics similar to coconut butter, and fat sources for improved intravenous nutrition in medical settings. SRRC researchers found means of improving such processed foods as dehydrated celery, pickles, and new uses of sweet potatoes. They additional found improved uses of pine tree products, especially the practical applications of pine tar rosin. Improvements to [[synthetic rubber]] also came from SRRC laboratories.<ref name=summary /> A more complete list of scientific contributions of the SRRC is available.<ref name=summary /> | Contributions of the laboratory to food safety include detection and detoxification of [[aflatoxin]] in [[cottonseed]] and peanuts, in addition to [[gossypol]] analysis of cottonseed. Inventions from the laboratory provided improved food quality and [[processed food]] quality. These inventions included high protein rice flour, edible rice bran oil, cottonseed oil with food characteristics similar to coconut butter, and fat sources for improved intravenous nutrition in medical settings. SRRC researchers found means of improving such processed foods as dehydrated celery, pickles, and new uses of sweet potatoes. They additional found improved uses of pine tree products, especially the practical applications of pine tar rosin. Improvements to [[synthetic rubber]] also came from SRRC laboratories.<ref name=summary /> A more complete list of scientific contributions of the SRRC is available.<ref name=summary /> | ||
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[[Category:United States Department of Agriculture facilities]] | [[Category:United States Department of Agriculture facilities]] | ||
[[Category:Research institutes in Louisiana]] | [[Category:Research institutes in Louisiana]] | ||
[[Category:Climate change organizations]] | |||
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 | This page in a nutshell: Agricultural research laboratory in New Orleans, Louisiana, US |
The United States Department of Agriculture Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) is one of four regional laboratories within the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.
Principal research areas of the SRRC include:
- food safety,
- global food security,
- climate change,
- biofuels,
- agricultural sustainability,
- health and nutrition.
It furthermore emphasizes improved product quality of natural fibers especially cotton, according to the SRRC's mission statement.[1]
Location
The SRRC laboratory is located at 1100 Allen Toussaint Blvd, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124-4305 (Latitude 30.01881, Longitude -90.08952).
Budget and staff
It has an annual budget of approximately $25 million, employing 70 scientists and 130 other people in laboratory support roles.[2]
History
The SRRC laboratory was established as a result of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 by the United States Congress. Construction on the laboratory commenced in 1939 at its current 40 acre (162,000 m2) building site, a tract in the northeast corner of City Park on Allen Toussaint Boulevard near Bayou St. John, New Orleans, Louisiana. The laboratory opened in 1941.
Research at the laboratory initially emphasized crops in the southern United States that were produced in surplus, especially cotton, sweet potato, and peanuts. The history of the laboratory is documented on-line by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.[3] The laboratory was designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark in May 2004.[4]
Agricultural Research Service regional research centers
The other regional research centers in the Agricultural Research Service are:
- Western Regional Research Center (WRRC) in Albany, California;
- National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) in Peoria, Illinois;
- Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.
Additionally SRRC has had affiliation with field stations.
Scientific achievements, discoveries, and inventions
The impact of the laboratory is gauged by its more than 8755 scientific publications and 1035 patents in its 70+ year history.[2] Notable contributions include the discovery of the process for making durable press (permanent press) cotton for wrinkle-free garments. Particular contributions to this discovery came from Ruth R. Benerito, who invented a cross-linking chemical reaction of the cellulose molecules in cotton that imparts the permanent press characteristic on cotton garments.[5]
Recognizing that sucrose, common table sugar, was in surplus, SRRC researchers demonstrated the chemical conversion of sucrose to certain sucrose esters and their use as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and texturizers in foods.[6] Making use of surplus oilseed crops, SRRC researchers invented routes to acetoglycerides and their use as thin, stretchable films suitable for edible coatings in various food applications and non-food plasticizer applications.[7]
SRRC researchers invented other improvements to cotton fabrics including imparting flame and heat resistance, antibacterial properties, oil resistance, and a stretchy version of cotton fabrics. They invented cotton tire cord and light-weighting tarpaulin materials by incorporating cotton into the materials. They improved printing processes for cotton textiles, as well as mechanical processing equipment for use by textile mills.[8]
Contributions of the laboratory to food safety include detection and detoxification of aflatoxin in cottonseed and peanuts, in addition to gossypol analysis of cottonseed. Inventions from the laboratory provided improved food quality and processed food quality. These inventions included high protein rice flour, edible rice bran oil, cottonseed oil with food characteristics similar to coconut butter, and fat sources for improved intravenous nutrition in medical settings. SRRC researchers found means of improving such processed foods as dehydrated celery, pickles, and new uses of sweet potatoes. They additional found improved uses of pine tree products, especially the practical applications of pine tar rosin. Improvements to synthetic rubber also came from SRRC laboratories.[8] A more complete list of scientific contributions of the SRRC is available.[8]
SRRC scientists Wilson A. Reeves, Stanley P. Rowland, Jett C. Arthur Jr., and Alfred D. French received in different years the Anselme Payen Award, administered by the American Chemical Society, for their contributions to the science and technology of cotton and cellulosic materials. Several prominent SRRC researchers are members of the Agricultural Research Service's Science Hall of Fame.[9]
References
- ↑ Southern Regional Research Center Mission Statement, version of February 1, 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 SRRC Overview and History, accessed February 1, 2013.
- ↑ Jett C. Arthur, Jr., History of the Southern Regional Research Center, accessed January 31, 2013.
- ↑ American Chemical Society National Historic Chemical Landmarks. Cotton Products Research (accessed February 2, 2013).
- ↑ "Ruth Benerito". June 2016. https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/ruth-benerito. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ↑ R. O. Feuge, H. J. Zeringue Jr., T. J. Weiss, M. Brown, Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, February 1970, Volume 47, Issue 2, pp. 56 - 60.
- ↑ Frank C. Magne, Robert R. Mod, Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, July 1953, Volume 30, Issue 7, pp. 269-271.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Seventy-one years of SRRC service, accessed February 7, 2013.
- ↑ http://www.ars.usda.gov/careers/hof/
External links
- United States Department of Agriculture Southern Regional Research Center website
- Judah Ginsberg, "The Evolution of Durable Press and Flame Retardant Cotton", American Chemical Society, Chemical Landmarks Series, accessed January 28, 2013.
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