Centers & Institutes
The Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center
The Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center (FAPC), located on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, strives to keep food products, jobs and dollars in Oklahoma. The FAPC offers large and small businesses, producers and entrepreneurs of Oklahoma and other states access to faculty and staff with expertise in business and technical disciplines.
The FAPC’s research laboratories, pilot-processing facilities, educational programs and seminars keep food and agricultural processors and entrepreneurs on the forefront of cutting-edge, value-added processing and technology.
For questions, comments or inquiries, contact:
J. Roy Escoubas | Director
The Oklahoma Water Research Center
The Oklahoma Water Research Center focuses on sustaining Oklahoma’s agriculture water supply, which is crucial to the state’s economy and the health and well-being of residents and the environment.
There is a strong need for development, delivery and accessibility of science-based information related to water management issues. These issues include improved soil management practices, irrigation methods, efficiency of farm water storage and the transporting of water, as well as an overall economic assessment of agricultural enterprises to allow owners and operators to manage existing water supplies more prudently.
For questions, comments or inquiries, contact:
Kevin Wagner | Director and Thomas E. Berry Professorship in Water Research and Management
The Biobased Products & Energy Center
The Biobased Products and Energy Center was created to better meet the ever-increasing need for OSU Ag Research scientific expertise regarding biofuels.
OSU Ag Research has been involved in biofuels development since the early 1990s and formed a biofuels non-food cellulosic team in 1998. The division has since been a national leader in examining and developing everything from potential biomass feedstocks to energy production systems to economic, social and environmental considerations.
Division officials view the center as the next logical step in focusing multidisciplinary efforts related to biofuels development not only within OSU Ag Research but across the state and nation.
For questions, comments or inquiries, contact:
Mari Chinn | Professor and Director, Biobased Products and Energy Center and Professor, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Institute for Biosecurity and Microbial Forensics
The Institute for Biosecurity and Microbial Forensics (IBMF) assesses current national capabilities in microbial forensics as related to plant pathogens and food safety. IBMF provides strategic planning, a long-range vision and prioritization of needs and resources related to plant and food-related microbial forensics and agricultural biosecurity.
IBMF researchers have worked to establish a coalition of national and state investigators conducting research on crop and food biosecurity and forensics issues. The institute serves as a focal point for communication, cooperation, collaboration, funding initiatives and outreach related to crop and food biosecurity and microbial forensics. IBMF also develops educational (coursework) and training (workshops) opportunities related to agricultural microbial forensics for students and stakeholders in cooperation with the OSU-Center for Health Sciences (Tulsa) and other state and national agencies.
For questions, comments or inquiries, contact:
Kitty Cardwell | Professor, Director
Institute for Agricultural Biosciences
The OSU Institute for Agricultural Biosciences (IAB) research initiative enables OSU Ag Research to more effectively assist producers through the development of new or improved crops and crop production systems.
To optimize opportunities for collaboration with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma, was chosen as the location for the institute. Research at the 33,000-square-foot facility focuses on basic and applied aspects of crop improvement through molecular biology, genetics, plant breeding and crop management. In addition to research laboratories and plant growth facilities, the IAB includes an auditorium and conference rooms equipped with state-of-the-art telecommunications systems for worldwide conferencing and distance education programs.
The IAB became operational in August 2011 with the research laboratories of professors Randy Allen and Million Tadege occupying the south wing of the facility. Program support leader Todd Baughman joined the IAB in October 2011.
Construction of the Institute conforms to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. It adheres to the principles of sustainability through energy efficiency, water conservation and environmental quality.
For questions, comments or inquiries, contact:
Randy Allen | Professor, Director