Location: Functional Foods Research
2025 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1: Resolve the unknown biophysical properties of novel bio-based composites and their ingredients to enable commercial fabrication of engineered wood products.
Goal 1.1: Identify and develop techniques to convert low value ag-waste (i.e., fermentation residue solids and seed press cakes) and juvenile perennial biomass into marketable commodities.
Goal 1.2: Identify and evaluate the factors associated with the response of novel EWP panels to various environmental conditions and methods of their ultimate disposal once their utility function is fulfilled.
Objective 2: Convert agricultural wastes and low value byproducts into bio-based pesticides and enhanced soil amendments to increase commercial agricultural and horticultural yields.
Goal 2.1: Identify chemical and physical properties of biochars produced from renewable biomass sources and from low-value agricultural co-products and develop these biochars for use as novel, high-value horticultural substrates and for bio based products.
Goal 2.2: Evaluate the use of alternative pesticides from a variety of low value plant biomass and from harvesting and processing waste streams.
Objective 3: Utilize specific phytochemicals and nutraceuticals from agricultural wastes and low value byproducts to develop new or improve nutritional value in foods and animal feeds.
Goal 3.1 Identify key phytochemical components from low value products and wastes to characterize their chemical and biological activities when present alone or in mixtures for determining synergistic properties for new uses as food and feed ingredients.
Goal 3.2 Use collaborative studies to determine the role/activities of key phytochemical components for use as bio-pesticides in feeds, feed storage, and plant growth systems.
Objective 4: Enhance methodologies to quickly determine and evaluate chemical components and to rapidly and non-destructively assess levels of compositional components in large sample sets of raw agricultural harvests and products.
Goal 4.1 Determine if single step accurate mass spectrometric analysis can be used to accurately determine the chemical formulas of phytochemicals present in extracts of seeds, leaves, stems, or bark of several target plant species.
Goal 4.2. Determine if accurate NIR calibrations can be obtained for glucosinolate and flavonoid phytochemical components in plant species identified and characterized in the previous research project.
Approach
The overall goal of this project plan is to convert selected low-value agricultural feedstocks into value-added bio-products based upon their physiochemical or chemical properties. The specific bio-products being presented are: (a) engineered wood products (EWP) for indoor uses; (b) biochar as an adaptive for plant growth media; (c) slow-release bio-pesticides; (d) phytochemical (e.g. plant natural essences) based functional food and feed ingredients; and (e) phytochemical based pest control agents. In addition, it is proposed to develop convenient methods for phytochemical discovery and high-throughput methods for measuring amounts of known chemicals present in plant tissues. The feedstocks being investigated include residual pressed oil seed, distillers’ grains with soluble (DDGS) from corn ethanol plants, low-value Midwestern growing trees as well as cedars, and pelletized soybean hulls. Seed cakes will include from soybeans and oil seeds of belonging to the Brassica family that are of emerging interest for industrial applications: Lesquerella, cuphea, and pennycress. One notable aspect of this work is that the combination of feedstock and bioproduct were selected to exploit specific properties of each. The research will also make use of pre-existing expertise in supercritical fluids to develop “green” methods for recovery of bioactive chemicals from plants. Finally, the phytochemical discovery element will be expanded to other crops or plants of emerging interest to further arbitrage newly developed methods.
Progress Report
On May 4th, 2020 (terminated: May 3rd, 2025), the project plan was started with the overall goal to convert selected low-value agricultural feedstocks, agricultural products with lower market prices, into value-added bio- products. The specific bio-products being researched were: (a) engineered manufactured wood for indoor uses; (b) biochar as an adaptive for plant growth media; (c) slow-release bio-pesticides; (d) phytochemical- (e.g. plant natural essences) based functional food and feed ingredients; and (e) phytochemical-based pest control agents.
This final report summarizes the accomplishments, and the replacement project, 5010-30600-01000D, “Advancing Sustainable Technologies to Improve End-Use Quality of Underutilized and Climate-Resilient Food Crops for Value-Added Food and Consumer Products,” will continue the phytochemical research component described herein.
Under Objective 1: Composite wood panels (CWPs) are employed as building and furniture materials and include plywood, high-density panels, medium-density panels, and particle boards. There is much international interest in the development of biobased CWPs to provide sustainable alternatives to current CWPs, which are fabricated with synthetic adhesives. Synthetic adhesives are relatively expensive, non-compostable, and environmentally/chemically hazardous. In contrast, bio-based adhesives are considerably less intrusive to the environment and have the potential to benefit rural communities from the development of new local processing hubs. Most bio-based adhesives are derived from seed protein flours, especially soybean. However, these soybean proteins are mainly used as a food product, which precludes their use as an adhesive. During the project’s first year, two novel adhesives were created by ARS researchers in Peoria, Illinois, utilizing non-seed proteins from Osage orange fruits. In addition, we studied the use of dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGSs), a byproduct of ethanol production and usually used as animal feed, as a substitute for soybean adhesives. DDGSs are less expensive than soybeans and can provide adequate adhesive properties. The added value to DDGSs would be a boon from ethanol producers to maize farmers.
Under Objective 2: ARS researchers in Peoria, Illinois, identified chemical and physical properties of biochar, a charcoal-like substance produced by heating biomass, such as agricultural byproducts, in a low-oxygen environment produced from ten common renewable biomass sources, including abundant low-value wood species like Eastern red cedar. The physical characteristics—such as surface area, elemental composition, and moisture content—were analyzed. Biochar from Eastern red cedar was found to have a particularly high surface area, which often indicates a greater ability to absorb other substances. This biochar was tested for its ability to absorb 6PPD, a toxin used in tires that is harmful to salmon. Results suggest Eastern red cedar biochar may help prevent this compound from entering waterways and causing fish kills. Eastern red cedar is an abundant renewable resource in the U.S. and a potential source of valuable naturally occurring compounds to control insect pests and disease- causing microbes. ARS researchers in Peoria, Illinois found that cedarwood oil, derived from this species, is toxic to a wide range of economically-important insects but safe for humans. In prior research, wood treated with this oil demonstrated resistance to termites and wood-decay fungi. We evaluated two distinct formulas made from Eastern red cedar for their properties, and found that, while both provided equal protection against termites, one was slightly better at preventing wood-decay fungi.
Under Objective 2: ARS researchers in Peoria, Illinois, also investigated a domestic alternative to imported gum arabic, a commonly used food thickener and emulsifier that can cause occupational and food allergies. This alternative is being developed from frost grapes, which produce a chemical (FGP) with similar thickening and emulsifying properties but without the gum’s allergenic proteins. Extraction and purification methods for FGP were investigated and an optimal ratio and particle size were determined. Pre-extraction treatments to improve extract quality were also tested. Although FGP had better emulsification activity than gum arabic, it was slightly less stable, so researchers used additional purification methods to remove lingering sugars like glucose and fructose, resulting in a more stable product suitable for food applications. Unlike gum arabic, frost grapes can be cultivated throughout North America as a new source of income in rural communities.
Under Objective 3: An individual plant species can produce hundreds of phytochemicals. Although many of these phytochemicals have yet to be identified, an even greater number of phytochemicals lack comparison chemicals to confirm their identities. In addition, purchasing a chemical for comparison can be cost-prohibitive. ARS
researchers in Peoria, Illinois, have used high-resolution mass spectrometry to predict the molecular formula and structures of phytochemicals detected in frost grape (riverbank grape), industrial hemp, Osage orange, soybeans, and plants in the Brassicaceae family (e.g., broccoli, mustard, or cabbage). These phytochemicals were either detected in crude extracts or partially purified extracts. The accuracy and prediction capabilities of this in-house mass spectrometer reduced the likelihood of purchasing the wrong standard thereby saving money and made it easier to interpret nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. The characterized phytochemicals are being given to collaborators at a medicinal school in Peoria for the evaluation of anti-cancer properties and their effects in other bioassays. The beneficial chemicals we discover in these plants have the potential to add value to crops currently in cultivation, thereby improving income for producers and individuals in rural communities.
Under Objective 4: ARS researchers in Peoria, Illinois, evaluated thousands of hemp floral samples from agricultural field sites in Alabama, California, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin to determine the amount of 20 different cannabinoids. University partners and an ARS location in Geneva, New York, each of which are managing their own field sites, are cultivating a variety of hemp varieties that are best for their state’s climate. Proposed uses for these hemp varieties include animal feed, paper production, and fiber. After the collapse of CBD market, farmers are looking to diversify hemp’s uses beyond the cannabinoids. A crucial component of the project relies on ensuring the percent total THC in hemp floral tissues is below 0.3%. Any material above 0.3% must be destroyed. To ensure the reliability of their methods, ARS researchers in Peoria, Illinois, participated in the National Institute of Standards and Technology cannabinoid evaluation testing program, as well as collaborated with university labs to gain insights into the prevalence of lab- to-lab variation in hemp testing labs. Development of this standard method ensures compliancy , which will open markets for growers to export hemp and hemp products across state and international borders.
Accomplishments
1. Health-promoting compounds from weedy trees and agricultural wastes. ARS researchers at Peoria, Illinois, purified natural chemicals from hemp roots and soybeans. In collaboration with researchers at the University of Illinois, it was found that feed enriched in soy saponins may be beneficial to animals. We see breeders selecting soybean varieties high in soy saponins, and growers highlighting the added value to their customers. ARS researchers at Peoria, Illinois, also isolated, for the first time, new natural chemicals (neolignans) from hemp roots that have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Hemp roots currently do not have a use; however, this new finding may be of interest to the hemp industry and beyond. Largescale extraction of these novel chemicals can be potential feedstock for producing drug derivatives. These derivatives would be like the production of semi-synthetic artemisinin derivatives for anti- malaria drugs. Our findings have added value to soybeans and new value to hemp roots with the potential to benefit farmers and rural communities.
Review Publications
Hay, W.T., Vaughn, S.F., McCormick, S.P., Berhow, M.A., Busman, M., Brownstein, K.J., Vaughan, M.M. 2025. Controlling Fusarium contamination of malting barley with Brassicaceae seed meal volatiles. ACS Agricultural Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsagscitech.4c00458?urlappend=%3Fref%3DPDF&jav=VoR&rel=cite-as.
Phippen, M.E., Berhow, M.A., Brownstein, K.J., Wesley, T.L., Phippen, W.B. 2024. Screening of seeds from wild pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) populations for sinigrin levels using a blood glucose meter and test strips. Industrial Crops and Products. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.119082.
Gnanamony, M., Thomas, M., Nguyen, T., Brownstein, K.J., De Alarcon, P. 2025. Pomiferin induces anti-proliferative and pro-death effects in high-risk Neuroblastoma cells by modulating multiple cell death pathways. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26083600.
Rheay, H.T., Compton, D.L., Brownstein, K.J., Skory, C.D. 2025. Necessary reporting of reaction yield for method evaluation: Considering Knoevenagel synthesis of ferulic acid. Results in Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rechem.2025.102349.
Macwilliams, J., Padimi, V., Carter, O., Brownstein, K., Stansell, Z.J., Gordon, T.C., Nachappa, P. 2025. Assessing the adaptive role of Cannabidivarinic Acid (CBDVA) in aphid defense in Cannabis sativa. Journal of Cannabis Research. 7. Article 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00291-x.