Source: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS submitted to
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION DIVERSIFICATION, MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT, AND ECONOMICS RESEARCH/TRAINING IN EMERGING RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY MISSISSIPPI DELTA REGION ARKANSAS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0225538
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
ARK02311
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jan 1, 2011
Project End Date
Oct 3, 2016
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Armah, P.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703
Performing Department
ASU-College of Agriculture
Non Technical Summary
Objective 1- Rationale: The recent higher crude oil prices have created higher incentives for biofuel production, stimulating demand for feedstock products and directly influencing creation of biofuel industry and the production of agricultural commodities in the region. Thus, a new generation of students trained with skills in this emerging industry is needed, and given significant construction of bio-refineries across the nation, the need for trained students to work in this sector is not only strong but is a national necessity. Objective 2- Rationale: Farmers in the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas continue to depend on the production of row crops such as cotton, soybeans, rice, etc. As global competition for these crops increases, a continuing stream of knowledge on diversification into the production and marketing of alternative or specialty new crops that can expand economic opportunities will be needed in the region. Objective 3 - Rationale: Farmers in the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas continue to depend on the production of row crops such as cotton, soybeans, rice, etc. As global competition for these crops increases, a continuing stream of knowledge on diversification into the production and marketing of new crops that can expand economic opportunities will be needed by in the region
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
60%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
60161993010100%
Goals / Objectives
The broad research project priorities will cover: Sustainable Energy; Food Safety; Agricultural Production Diversification; Human Capacity Training and Development in Agriculture; Climate Mitigation; Global Food Security and Hunger, etc. These proposed 5 year projects will establish innovative frameworks for agricultural research and training with collaborative research and technology transfer components with Arkansas' higher institutions and experimental stations that transcend traditional agricultural research and academic disciplinary boundaries. The projects also have the potential of providing vision for addressing the major challenges of food, energy, climate, and health facing the Mississippi Delta region of Arkansas as well as helping to improve the economic conditions in rural Arkansas. This 5 year project will emphasize three (3) broad research and training themes or objectives: Objectives 1: Economic research and training in integrative biosciences and bio-energy for sustainable food, agricultural and environmental systems in Arkansas (involves integrative and collaborative research and training of students and farmers in food and agricultural, social and economic disciplines), particularly in sustainable ecosystems and functional integrative agricultural production, value-added processing, marketing, and natural resources management. Outcome: Well trained students with skills and expertise with which they can directly pipeline to the emerging bioenergy workforce Objective 2: Agricultural production diversification - economic analysis for identifying opportunities and potential of producing bio-energy feedstock, dedicated alternative crops for the emerging biofuels industry as well as specialty crops for food processing facilities in the region Outcome: This has the potential of helping farmers in the region make new investments in agriculture, retain on-farm rural jobs, and create new "green jobs" as a result of their diversifying into dedicated energy and alternative crops that can be used to feed the emerging bio-diesel industries in the region. The proposed projects will indirectly impact the agricultural economy of the entire Northeast Arkansas region. Objectives 3: Agricultural Management and Economics - specifically in agricultural trade policy, resource economics, and economics of alternative energy. Involves the need to provide economic information and opportunities to rice farmers in the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas to diversify into the production of "aromatic" Basmati or Jasmine rice varieties so as to access and exploit foreign market opportunities Outcome: Outcome is measurable in terms of increased profit and incomes to farmers, number of jobs created, increased production of new rice varieties, increased exports and prices of Arkansas rice.
Project Methods
Methods - Objective1 Use ASU's bioenergy resources to train students to acquire the expertise in bioenergy. Will utilize ASU's 4-year multidisciplinary Renewable Energy Technology (2+2) degree program and other bioenergy resources and private industry to train students to acquire the expertise in bioenergy students acquire the competencies and skills to pipeline them directly into the emerging bioenergy industry in the region. Methods - Objective 2: 1. Conduct economic analysis for identifying opportunities, potential, challenges and barriers of producing alternative/dedicated crops and bio-energy feedstocks for the emerging biofuels industry as well as specialty crops for food processing facilities in the region. 2. Provide continuous economic outlook analysis for the production, processing and marketing of dedicated bio-energy and specialty crops that may impact economic development in the region 3. Collaborate with stakeholders (farmers, processors, investors) in the collection and dissemination of timely information on the production of resilient and resistant crops that can help farmers diversify into bio-energy, specialty and alternative crops with the potential of replacing or complementing the traditionally grown crops in the region. Methods - Objective 3: This will be a participatory-based collaborative production and marketing assistance project between rice farmers in the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas on one hand, Arkansas State University, University of Ghana and Ghanaian rice consumers on the other hand. This project will facilitate the production of "aromatic" Basmati and Jasmine rice varieties in the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas and the initiation of market and supply chain feasibility studies in Ghana to exploit market opportunities for the "aromatic" rice varieties. a. Conduct collaborative applied research with randomly selected rice farmers from the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas to grow "aromatic" Basmati and Jasmine rice varieties. b. Assess market opportunities for "aromatic" Basmati and Jasmine rice varieties produced from the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas in the Ghanaian and other international markets in a collaborative research with the University of Ghana. c. Develop and articulate market research results on "aromatic" Basmati and Jasmine rice varieties produced in the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas in a concise informative brochure and distribute to Ghanaian rice importers and public officials (Ministry of Agriculture) in charge of rice imports. There is potential for partnership with rice industry cooperatives and promotion groups such as US Rice Federation and others. d. Develop and articulate community based information on the production of "aromatic" Basmati and Jasmine rice varieties and foreign (Ghana) market opportunities to farmers, extension agents and other rural enterprises in the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas, that will provide a vision for efficient production of "aromatic" Basmati and Jasmine rice varieties in the region.

Progress 01/01/11 to 10/03/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Agriculture producers, farmers, students. Arkansas higher institutions, regional bioenergy businesses. and policy makers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1. Undergraduate students involved in the project have had opportuinities to further their education in graduate programs in bioenergy and specialty crop production- Mr. Woody Pipatchaisiri who was trained in the project is now a supervisor in a specialty crop production and marketing company in Texas; Mr. ShelemiaNyamuryekunge an undergraduate student trained in the project is now pursuing a Ph.D in New Mexico; Miss Angelia Smith a graduate student who worked on the project has had an opportunity to work for University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Division where she worked with specialty crop producers 2. The PI and private sector collaborators such as Bioenergy System LLC. have acquired the skills of using IMPLAN database software to analyze bioenrgy and specialty crop enterprises in Northeast Arkansas. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presented the result at the Annual Agribusiness Conference at Arkansas State University in 2011 to over 1000 farmers and regional agribusiness stakeholders. Presented the results at the15th Annual Conference of Food Distribution Society, October10 -13, 2015; Philadelphia. Paul Armah (PI) et al. (2015) "Diversification into Specialty Crops Production as a Regional Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas".Presented at the 15th Annual Conference of Food Distribution Society, October10 -13, 2015; Philadelphia. Paul Armah and Kevin Humphrey(2012)Presented the project results to regional stakeholders as"Bioenergy Adoption in Northeast Arkansas Economy. at the 3rd Annual Renewable Energy Conference. November 15,2012 Paul Armah and Kevin Humphrey " Farm Scale Processing and Production- A Systems Approach to Processing Value-Added Biodeisel". (2012). Presented at the 32nd Annual Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation (ALFDC) conference, November 05, 2012Fargo. Arkansas Paul Armah and Jim Wimberly (2012) "Enterprise Level Comparative Economic Analysis of 3 Hypothetical Commercial Scale Bioenergy Facilities". Presented at Winrock Internationall and Arkansas State University Bioenergy Workshop for Association of Arkansas Counties, Little Rock April 04,2012 Paul Armah(2011). "The Economic Impact of Crude Oil and Ethanol Prices on Arkansas Livestock Feed Prices". 2011. Annual Renewable Energy Conference, Arkansas State University, April 18, 2011 Paul Armah, andMary Clayton. (2010) "The Economic Impact of Ethanol Production on Arkansas Corn-based Livestock Feed Prices". Abstract and Presentation. Food Distribution Research Society. Annual Conference, Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa Sandestin, Florida, October 16 - 20, 2010. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? i. Trained students with bioenergy skills. 2.Outreach and seminar presentations to spcialty crop producers, farmers, and bioenergy stakeholders in Northeast Arkansas. 3.Journal publications 4. Graduate students research and thesis

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Paul Armah et. al. (2016). Diversification into Specialty Crops Production as a Regional Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas An Economic Impact Analysis: Journal of Food Distribution Research March 2016; Volume 47 Issue 1


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Agriculture producers and farmers, Arkansas' higher institutions, independent agribusiness firms and processors,bioenergy developers and investors, agriculture input producers, experimental stations, students and regional policymakers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Stakeholders, collaborators, farmers, bio-energy professionals and students involved in the project acquired new knowledge on the challenges of producing and marketing specialty vegetable and bio-energy crops in Northeast Arkansas. The financial analysis of the potential construction of bio-energy processing plant in the region provided increased knowledge to potential bio-energy developers, investors and policy makers on the challenges of developing a bio-energy industry in the region. Project participants and stakeholders acquired the use of various knowledge and techniques used in evaluating the economic impacts of diversifying into the production of alternative crops in the Northeast Arkansas region. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?1.Presented the result at the Annual Agribusiness Conference at Arkansas State University in 2011 to over 1000 farmers and regional agribusiness stakeholders. Presented the results at the15th Annual Conference of Food Distribution Society, October10 -13, 2015; Philadelphia. Paul Armah (PI) et al. Diversification into Specialty Crops Production as a Regional Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas, Presented at the 15th Annual Conference of Food Distribution Society, October10 -13, 2015; Philadelphia. 3.Diversification into Vegetable Crops Production as a Regional Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Disseminate the project results to professionals and stakeholders at professional conferences. Collaborate with USDA Cooperative Extension Office to develop a Marketing resource platform "forward contract" platform to help specialty crop producers in the region to secure forward contracts for their perishable produce in order to reduce marketing risks. Publish the economic impact results of producing bio-energy and specialty crops on the Bio Energy System's and Winrock International Websites.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Completed the economic Impact analysis for specialty vegetable crops in Northeast Arkansas. 2.Trained graduate students on how to use IMPLAN software to analyze economic impact of specialty crop diversification in the region Graduate student completed a thesis in May 2015. "Economic Impact of Vegetable Production in Northeast Arkansas."

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Evaluation of Commercial-scale Vegetable Production as an Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas-An Economic Impact Analysis


Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Agriculture producers and farmers,Arkansas' higher institutions, independent agriculture produce processors, bioenergy developers and investors, agriculture input producers, xperimental stations, students and regional policy makers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Stakeholders, collaborators, farmers, bio-energy professionals and students involved in the project acquired new knowledge on the challenges of producing and marketing specialty vegetable and bio-energy crops in Northeast Arkansas. The financial analysis of the potential construction of bio-energy processing plant in the region provided increased knowledge to potential bio-energy developers, investors and policy makers on the challenges of developing a bio-energy industry in the region. Project participants and stakeholders acquired the use of various knowledge and techniques used in evaluating the economic impacts of diversifying into the production of alternative crops in the Northeast Arkansas region. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Disseminate the project results to professionals and stakeholders at prefessional conferences. Publish the economic impact results of producing bio-energy crops in Northeast Arkansas in a peer reviewed Journal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Completed theeconomic Impact analysis for producing bio-energy, and specialty vegetable crops in Northeast Arkansas.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2014 Citation: Evaluation of Commercial-scale Vegetable Production as an Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas-An Economic Impact Analysis


Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: The project collaborated and worked with row crop farmers in Northeast Arkansas,Bioenergy developers, businesses and investors, researchers and students in the same region,, The progress report has also been communicated to Winrock International, Bioenergy Systems, Arkansas State University, AP Innovations, Arkansas USDA, Farmers National. Changes/Problems: The major problem that this project faces is the ability to estimate how many bioenergy facilities that can be located in Northeast Arkansas. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Students at Arkansas State University have had the opportunity to be trained in economic impact analysis using IMPLAN software.Professionals from small businesses and consulting such as BioEnergy Systems LLC,Winrock International Arkansas State Universityinvolved in the project were trained in bioenergy evaluation processesand analysis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Progress results of the project have been communicated to stakeholders, farmers, students and the general public through presentations at conferences(e.g Annual Agribusiness Conference at Arkansas State University with over 2000 attendants- mostly farmers. We also organized a seminar at Little Rock where the progress result was presented to policy makers, investers. farmers and students What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Identify the best biofuel to be produced in Northeast Arkansas. Evaluate whether at current gas prices the best biofuels produced in Northeast Arkansas will ever be cost competitive with fossil fuel .Whether row crop farmers can make profit by growing energy crops?

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Project has evaluated the deployment of a commercial-scale bioenergy enterprise(s) in northeast Arkansas which would encourage development of alternative (and relatively low input) agricultural crops in the region, This could be particularly attractive to some landowners/farmers. In addition, such deployment would provide numerous environmental benefits (including, for example, reduced agricultural inputs for energy crops compared to conventional crops, as well as reduced atmospheric carbon emissions). And, finally, The commercial-scale renewable bioenergy production that could be established in the regionwould have significant national security benefits, as evidenced by the growing commitments to biofuels and renewable electricity by the Department of Defense. Progress results of the research have beencommunicated to stakeholders, targeted audiences at conferences and seminars

Publications


    Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Activities include collecting, analyzing alternative and bioenergy data using IMPLAN software to assess their impacts on Northeast Arkansas economy. Products include impacts of employment output, value added, etc. on the diversification of vegetables and bioenergy in the Northeast Arkansas economy, acquisition of skills in the use of IMPLAN software, and engagement of a graduate student on the research as thesis project. Dissemination activities include presentation of the results to stakeholders, farmers and bioenergy professionals at the 2012 Agribusiness Conference. PARTICIPANTS: Principal investigators are Paul Armah or Arkansas State University, Jim Wimberly of Bioenergy Systems, and Steve Young of AP Innovations Project Director is Annett Pagan of Winrock International. Project partners include Winrock International, Bioenergy Systems, Arkansas State University, AP Innovations, Arkansas USDA, Farmers National. Collaborators include Alan McVey of Arkansas State University, Gregory Phillips of Arkansas State University, Robert Young of Arkansas USDA, Jim Wimberly of Bioenergy Systems, Steve Young of AP Innovations, Wayne Miller of University of Arkansas Extension Service, Michael Popps of University of Arkansas. Project trained Craig Walker an undergraduate student and Kassy Whitener a graduate student on data collection and analysis using IMPLAN software. TARGET AUDIENCES: TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include farmers who may diversify into vegetables and dedicated crops production, economic developers and investors who may invest in bioenergy industry in the region and policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    Stakeholders, collaborators, farmers and bioenergy professionals involved in the project acquired new knowledge on the challenges of producing and marketing vegetables and dedicated or bioenergy crops in Northeast Arkansas. The financial analysis of the potential construction of bioenergy processing plant in the region provided increased knowledge to potential economic developers, investors and policy makers on the challenges of developing bioenergy industry in the region. Project participants and stakeholders acquired the use of various knowledge and techniques on the economic factors affecting the diversification into alternative crops in the region.

    Publications

    • Armah Paul and Velumurugan P. Shanmugam (2012).Price Hikes in US Agricultural Commodity Futures Markets: An Empirical Efficiency Test. 53rd Annual Conference of the Food Distribution Research Society (FDRS): October 13-17, 2012. San Juan, Puerto Rico


    Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Activities include collecting, analyzing alternative and bioenergy data using IMPLAN software to assess their impacts on Northeast Arkansas economy. Events include presenting the preliminary results at Agribusiness Conference, February 8, 2012, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro trainings. Products include impacts of employment output, value added, etc. on the diversification of vegetables and bioenergy in the Northeast Arkansas economy, acquisition of skills in the use of IMPLAN software, and engagement of a graduate student on the research as thesis project. Dissemination activities include presentation of the results to stakeholders, farmers and bioenergy professionals at the 2012 Agribusiness Conference. PARTICIPANTS: Principal investigaters are Paul Armah or Arkansas State University, Jim Wimberly of Bioenergy Systems, and Steve Young of AP Innovations Project Director is Annett Pagan of Winrock International. Craig Walker, a student at Arkansas State University also worked on the project. Project partners include Winrock International, Bioenergy Systems, Arkansas State University, AP Innovations, Arkansas USDA, Farmers National. Collaborators include Alan McVey of Arkansas State University, Gregory Phillips of Arkansas State University, Robert Young of Arkansas USDA, Jim Wimberly of Bioenergy Systems, Steve Young of AP Innovations, Wayne Miller of University of Arkansas Extension Service, Michael Popps of University of Arkansas. Project trained Craig Walker an undergraduate student and Kassy Whitener a graduate student on data collection and analysis using IMPLAN software. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include farmers who may diversify into vegetables and dedicated crops production, economic developers and investors who may invest in bioenergy industry in the region and policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Application for grant from USDA to fund the training of students in emerging renewable energy industry was not granted. This will significantly dely or affect the second part of the project.

    Impacts
    Stakeholders, collaborators, farmers and bioenergy professionals involved in the project acquired new knowledge on the challenges of producing and marketing vegetables and dedicated or bioenergy crops in Northeast Arkansas. The financial analysis of the potential construction of bioenergy processing plant in the region provided increased knowledge to potential economic developers, investors and policy makers on the challenges of developing bioenergy industry in the region. Project participants and stakeholders acquired the use of various knowledge and techniques on the economic factors affecting the diversification into alternative crops in the region.

    Publications

    • Abstract Armah, P.W., and Wimberly J. 2012. Economic Potential for Alternative and Bioenery Crops in Northeast Arkansas. 2012 ASU Agribusiness Conference, Jonesboro, Arkansas, February, 8, 2012.