09/15/05 U of I ag dean talks about changing times

Dean John Hammel says his U of I College of Agriculture and Life Sciences supports traditional agriculture but is looking for more. Hammel says there are ways the university can improve on what we already have. HAMMEL "We really need to state looking at that molecular genetics and how can we go in and genetically modify say a crop so it has greater pest resistance? How can we modify it so it has some other quality characteristics that is highly desirable by say millers or somebody outside once it's been harvested." Hand in hand with that Hammel says we need to look at adding value to that farm crop. HAMMEL "Bioproducts and also the commodity. How can we enhance the markets for those and the product line for those? I think agriculture is, for me I'm excited because we're in a transition phase. We're traditionally been in food but I think t in the future there's going to be food, bioproducts, alternative fuels and also waste energy. It's an exciting time." In future reports we'll be talking with other university officials about their involvement in agriculture. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott