PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (June 9, 2023) — Scientists and agriculturalists started cultivating grain thousands of years ago, and society hasn’t stopped finding uses for it since. It’s a culinary staple the world over, a core component of animal feed, and it’s even become critical to bioenergy production. But some experts say the resource is being spread too thin, putting a strain on global supply chains and growing demand for animal-sourced food. Climate change and calls for sustainability further complicate the landscape, suggesting that it’s time for today’s agronomists to start cultivating alternative sources for some of society’s agricultural staples and feed for their animals.
Negusse Kidane, Ph.D., assistant professor and research scientist in the Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) responded to that call with a proposal to research the potential for biomass from hemp plants to serve as an alternative source for the grain used in animal feed, which consumes ~36% of the world’s grain supply. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded Dr. Kidane a $299,162 grant to conduct a three-year study on the nutritional profile of industrial hemp plant biomass by-products, and their impact on goats, and to determine if hemp biomass can serve as a viable alternative feed that could reduce the use of grain in animal feed.
The project could have positive implications for the environment and certain economic sectors, while laying foundational knowledge for a hemp plant and its biomass that could become a vector for continuous scientific and social iteration.
“This grant represents a significant milestone in our pursuit of innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture. By exploring the potential of hemp as an alternative to traditional grain in animal feed, our researcher will spearhead groundbreaking research that not only addresses pressing environmental challenges but also contributes to the advancement of animal nutrition,” said PVAMU Vice President of Research and Innovation Magesh Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., MBA.
Negusse Kidane, Ph.D.
Like grain, hemp has also been around for ages, but Congress criminalized it as a controlled substance in 1970, putting severe constraints on cultivation and restricting researchers’ ability to access and study the plant’s properties and potential. Legislators reversed course in 2018, changing hemp’s fate and the fortunes of those who were betting on its benefits – from growers and ranchers to industrial processors, market watchers, and agricultural scientists.
Dr. Kidane’s CBG proposal titled “Evaluating the Nutritional Profile of Industrial Hemp Farm-Byproducts and Extraction Residues as Alternative Feed Resources for Goats is aimed at improving the efficiency of goats in their nutrient utilization and exploring novel human-inedible feed materials as alternative nutrients sources. The proposal focuses on understanding the chemical composition and nutritional values of hemp extraction residues as an alternative feed for dairy and meat goats. In Texas, House Bill 1325-2019 recently legalized hemp production, distribution, and processing. As a result, the number of hemp farmers and cannabinoid oil processors is growing remarkably. Advances in knowledge of hemp byproducts and chemical composition will have a broader application as feed for ruminant animals and impact human health. Dr. Kidane is expected to translate his discoveries into adding value to the hemp byproducts, creating nutritious and affordable diets, and improving the economic situation of hemp producers and resource-limited goat farmers in Texas and the United States.
Offering hemp biomass byproducts as an animal feed solution to the livestock industry could open a new commercial market for hemp businesses, while incorporating recycling strategies into their manufacturing processes could decrease significant amounts of industrial waste and pollution. Goat ranchers could see further market opportunities as well, as the nutritional value of their feed is the foremost indicator of meat and milk quality, which determine their profit potential.
“The involvement of six multi-disciplinary scientists from PVAMU’s academic and research programs demonstrates the team’s commitment to partnership and efficient use of resources. The project also fosters academic and industrial collaboration, such as with goat producers, hemp farmers, and hemp processing industries across Texas,” Dr. Kidane says. “Given the breadth and scope of the study, a collaborative approach is indispensable for the success of this proposed project, requiring synergistic efforts from scientists in multiple disciplines.”
Dr. Kidane’s research group is made up of a multi-disciplinary team from throughout the College of Agricultural and Human Science (CAHS) with experts in animal nutrition, plant medical science, toxicology, and analytical chemistry. Co-PIs include William Foxworth, Ph.D., research scientist and director of the International Goat Research Center (IGRC) in the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center (CARC) and Aruna Weerasooriya, Ph.D., professor and chair of Plant & Environmental Sciences; Milton Daley, Ph.D., assistant professor of Animal Science; Laura Carson, Ph.D., research scientist and director of Undergraduate Research Compliance; Selamawit Woldesenbet, DVM, research specialist and manager of the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center (CARC) Core Laboratories; and two undergraduate students who will assist in collecting and processing hemp samples.
The funds were awarded through the USDA’s Capacity Building Grants (CBG) program, which supports agricultural research at 1890 Land-Grant Institutions that address key problems of national, regional, and multi-national importance while advancing fundamental sciences and producing translational research that facilitates agricultural development. Dr. Kidane’s hemp byproduct research project meets all six goals in the USDA’s five-year strategic plan, aligns with a CAHS goal of conducting research that directly supports community and farm needs, and supports the mission of the Sustainable Food Security program, which is working to develop value-added caprine products at PVAMU.
Dr. Kidane has extensive research experience in goat nutrition. Since he joined the college as Assistant Professor in September 2020, Dr. Kidane has made significant advances in establishing his research at Prairie View, A&M University. Recently, Dr. Kidane modified the GrowSafe automated feeding system designed initially for cattle and now being used for goats. Currently, he is working on USD-CRIS funded project to establish selection parameters for more efficient dairy and meat goats. In this project, Dr. Kidane, in collaboration with faculty from Texas A&M University, is training graduate students on measuring residual feed intake using Growsafe technology. Dr. Kidane’s research proposal is aligned with strategic plan of enhancing research and teaching in agriculture and food sciences by establishing a new research area in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences (CAHS). Dr. Kidane also teaches animal science courses to undergraduate students. Thus, this proposed research will further enhance an existing senior research projects and improvement in the college to attract and train students from underrepresented communities. In his ongoing project, Dr. Kidane has already started training two undergraduate students at PVAMU. This submitted CBG proposal with other scientists from CARC shows Dr. Kidane’s commitment to partnership and efficient use of resources. Furthermore, his collaboration with Dr. Gordon Carstens, a professor of beef cattle nutrition, will strengthen CAHS linkages with Texas A&M University. In addition, Dr. Kidane’s working linkage with hemp processing industry, especially Bayou City Hemp processing Company will consolidate the College of Agriculture’s commitment to serve Texas industries through research and services.
By Jada Smith