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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]]. 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]].<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> The SRRC laboratory is located at 1100 Allen Toussaint Blvd, [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]] 70124-4305 (Latitude 30.01881, Longitude -90.08952). 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>
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 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 (New Orleans)|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>
Principal research areas of the SRRC include:


The other regional research centers in the Agricultural Research Service are: the [[Western Regional Research Center]] (WRRC) in [[Albany, California]]; the [[National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research]] (NCAUR) in [[Peoria, Illinois]]; and the [[Eastern Regional Research Center]] (ERRC) in [[Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania]]. Additionally SRRC has had affiliation with field stations.
* [[food safety]],  
* global food security,
* [[climate change]],  
* [[biofuels]],  
* agricultural sustainability,
* health and nutrition.  


The SRRC laboratory suffered $35 million in damage as a result of [[Hurricane Katrina]]. The laboratory was closed for the ensuing year, necessitating relocation of approximately 170 members of its staff. The laboratory restored full operation in August 2007, two years after the storm.<ref name=Katrina>[http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070810.htm Agricultural Research Service article on the SRRC's recovery from Hurricane Katrina] by E. Peabody and S. Durham, August 10, 2007, accessed February 23, 2013.</ref>
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>


[[File:USDA Southern Regional Research Center New Orleans 1985 Drying Cotton Samples.jpg|thumb|left|250px|USDA Southern Regional Research Center New Orleans 1985 Drying Cotton Samples]]
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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