SEEDS Objectives
Ohio's food and agricultural industry contributed $79.6 billion to the state's
economic output in 2000, according to a recent Ohio State University research
report. Food and agriculture-related businesses also provided 15 percent of
Ohio's employment and 9 percent of Ohio's total income.
The Ohio Agricultural
Research and Development Center (OARDC) is committed to the mission of enhancing
the well-being of the people of Ohio, the nation, and the world through research
on foods, agriculture, family, and the environment.
In order to support
this leading multi-billion-dollar Ohio industry and fulfill our mission, sound
science-based research and technological developments are essential. This
requires expertise from scientists who possess a unique
understanding of the requirements that provide nutritious food at a reasonable
cost while maintaining a clean environment and doing all of this in a socially
acceptable manner.
The Research Enhancement Competitive Grants Program (SEEDS)
has the goal of promoting research excellence among OARDC-supported scientists
and faculty in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
SEEDS is supported by an appropriation from the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio
Agricultural Research and Development Center of The Ohio State University.
The objectives of the
SEEDS program include:
- Increasing the competitiveness of
scientists in extramural grant programs.
- Encouraging partnerships with private industry and other stakeholders.
- Encouraging the development of interdisciplinary teams.
- Encouraging international collaborations.
- Supporting the exploration of enterprises that are potentially new to Ohio.
- Providing undergraduate students with research experience.
- Providing graduate students with the opportunity to take part in the grant
writing/review process.
SEEDS continues to prove its value by supporting researchers in gathering
the preliminary data needed to gain a competitive edge over researchers at other
institutions.
Projects that were completed and reported during calendar year 2003 show that
industry partners provided $1,212,550 in support, and investigators received
$8,043,431 in extramural funding.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
Return on Investment
For every OARDC dollar invested in projects completed and reported over the life
of the
SEEDS, $5.52 has been returned as a result of industry matches and extramural
funding.
Intellectual Property
Eight U.S. patent applications have been filed as a result of the initial
findings of SEEDS research projects. Two patents have been granted. Three
licensing agreements have been obtained.
Graduate Student Education
From the 35 projects completed during calendar year 2003, 17 master's theses and
four doctoral dissertations were completed. For the life of the SEEDS, 34 theses
and 20 dissertations have been produced.
Publications and Presentations
For calendar year 2003, completed projects resulted in 38 peer-reviewed papers
published and 93 posters and presentations made in various locations around the
world. For the life of the program 166 papers have been published and 335
presentations made.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you would like more information on OARDC or the OARDC Research Enhancement
Competitive Grants Program, please feel free to contact our office in Columbus
at (614) 292-3897 or SEEDS@osu.edu.
|
|
