NEWS

State taps MSU as hub to commercialize ag research

Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

MSU Foundation Plant Researcher and Professor Federica Brandizzi stands amongst plants in one of her growth chambers July 28, 2016. She is modifying strains of alfalfa and soybeans by targeting the genes to create higher yields. Her research with alfalfa regen-sy27x changes the structural part of the alfalfa plant to make it softer (for easier cow digestion) and more expansive. Michigan State University.

EAST LANSING – Federica Brandizzi is studying ways to increase the yields of soybeans and alfalfa.

Once the Michigan State University professor pinpoints the genetic traits that increase a plant’s biomass, the hope is to license her technology to businesses, which then can apply them to multiple crops and sell the seeds to farmers.

“By finding crops that have a bigger yield, you can not only save money, but you can make these crops more competitive on the market and make downstream products cheaper for the consumer,” Brandizzi said. “We want to make crops bigger and more productive.”

Brandizzi is one of 11 MSU professors who have received grants through the university’s Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) program in the last two years to license their research. Her colleagues are attempting to reduce yield loss due to drought and to use plant bio-oil as an alternative to petroleum-based products, among other projects.

MTRAC was created in 2012 by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, supported by the Michigan Strategic Fund to aid technology transfer from universities and research centers to the private sector as a catalyst for economic growth.

Earlier this month, the MSF Board approved MSU's application to be the state's first MTRAC innovation hub for agricultural bioscience and technology. This classification allows researchers from around the state to submit proposals to MSU's program for funding. MSU's program will also receive $2.4 million in additional funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund and MSU to support research at the university like Brandizzi’s.

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“I think we would be remiss if we didn’t pay attention to all the great research that is happening out of the universities,” said Denise Graves, the MEDC’s director of university relations. “That’s why we were very interested in making this a state-wide program. There are little pockets of great things that are happening at the lab and it would be a shame to have that sitting on a shelf. Why not bring it out into a commercial market?”

MSU Foundation Plant Researcher and Professor Federica Brandizzi examines a soybean in one of her growth chambers July 28, 2016. She is modifying strains of alfalfa and soybeans by targeting the genes to create higher yields.

The University of Michigan was also selected this month as the state's second innovation hub to commercialize research in life sciences. Three other innovation hubs have yet to be announced.

MSU’s MTRAC program has funded 24 proposals since 2013 and licensed three of them to other businesses, said Karen Studer-Rabeler, program director. She said the program hopes to accept state-wide proposals by the end of the year.

“It’s another way for the university to have an impact on the greater good … and give back to the community,” she said.

Brandizzi is still a few years from being able to commercialize her research but said this is a better route than just publishing a paper on her findings. Being able to sell the technology would generate money for more research, she said.

“By leaning toward commercialization, we can see how the product can start producing revenues that will eventually create jobs for people,” she said.

Alexander Alusheff is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.