Arkansas Research Alliance Awards Additional Funding for Essential Research

MEDIA CONTACT

John Lovett

U of A System Division of Agriculture
479-763-5929  |  jlovett@uada.edu

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Four researchers with the University of Arkansas System were awarded bonus grants by the Arkansas Research Alliance for projects to develop innovative applications of rice, soybeans and lithium-ion batteries.

The additional funding comes after ARA announced its Impact Grant awards in April including a record 25 grants totaling $1.86 million presented to researchers across Arkansas.

The four bonus grants were $20,250 each. Each project has an Arkansas industry collaborator which provides additional funds to the project. The industry partners include the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, Riceland Foods, Rice Capital Inc., and U.S. Vanadium.

“ARA is deeply committed to providing assistance to science that makes a significant contribution to industries essential to Arkansas,” said Bryan J. Barnhouse, ARA president and CEO. “When we saw an opportunity to extend the grants program to additional competitive projects, we were delighted to take it.”

Researchers receiving bonus ARA Impact Grants:

• Samira Feyzi, an assistant professor of food science, was awarded for her project titled “Improved Protein Extraction Technology using a Novel Green System for Production of High Quality and Sustainable Soy Protein Isolate from Arkansas Soybeans.” Riceland Foods is the industry partner of this grant project. Feyzi specializes in protein chemistry and analysis as a member of the food science department with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

• Scott Lafontaine, an assistant professor of food chemistry in the food science department with Bumpers College and the experiment station, was awarded for his project titled “Optimizing Rice Extract for Brewing Efficiency and Economic Growth in Arkansas.” The Anheuser-Busch Foundation is the industry partner for this grant project.

• Mahfuzur Rahman, an assistant professor and grain processing engineer in the food science department for the experiment station and Bumpers College, was awarded for his project titled “Create an Arkansas-grown rice protein brand in the plant protein market.” Rice Capital Inc. is the industry partner for this grant project.

• Noureen Siraj, an assistant professor of chemistry for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, was awarded for her project titled “Nano V2O5-PNDC composite cathode for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries.” U.S. Vanadium is the industry partner for this project.

Support for food and ag research

Feyzi’s research program is focused on developing innovative technologies that produce protein ingredients from sustainable protein sources and their by-products. The research includes process optimization and enhancing functional, nutritional and flavor properties of the protein ingredients.

“This research program will help adequately feed the growing population, which is projected to be 10 billion by 2050,” Feyzi said. “The ARA grant fosters the health of food consumers through developing a green strategy to produce high-quality, nutritious and sustainable soy protein isolate from non-genetically modified and organic soybeans grown in Arkansas. This research will support soybean farmers, companies making consumer packaged goods, health-conscious food consumers and policymakers.”

Lafontaine said the timing of his ARA Impact grant aligns with HB1491, the new Arkansas legislation supporting Arkansas rice use in beer and sake production.

“By combining this policy momentum with precision agriculture and advanced analysis of the composition of rice, this project supports sustainability, will reduce waste, and positions Arkansas as a national leader in brewing innovation and value-added rice applications,” Lafontaine said.

Rahman said protein from cereals like rice are “underutilized” in comparison to pulse proteins and can diversify the market. Combining pulse protein from legumes with cereal protein can make a “complete protein,” which offers all nine essential amino acids. Only a handful of companies sell imported rice protein in the U.S. market, Rahman said. Rice bran, a by-product of rice milling, contains about 15 percent protein.

“This research can create opportunities for Arkansas rice protein as a competitive market product,” Rahman said. “The successful scaling up could generate over $300 million in revenue by fractionating at least 50 percent of available rice bran protein — 80 million pounds at $4 per pound at the market price. This emerging industry could create new jobs and drive economic growth in Arkansas.”

ARA Impact Grants provide funding for 12-month scientific and engineering research projects that involve universities and industries in Arkansas and that support one or more of seven growth opportunity areas profiled in ARA’s report, “Enabling an Innovation-Led Future for Arkansas: University Research Competencies Aligned with Innovation Growth Opportunities.”

ARA’s mission is to invest in strategic research talent recruitment, retention, and recognition to generate scientific and engineering breakthroughs that support statewide economic development.

​To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on 𝕏 at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on 𝕏 at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.

Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.