1.
Bioplastics: The Extension
Professional’s Role in Linking
Science to Practice
Dr. Heidi Kratsch
Dr. Ruby Ward
Utah State University Extension

2.
What’s the point of research?
 Journal articles
 Grant funding
 University recognition
 Tenure/promotion
 Advancing science
 Information that influences producers
profitability and risk

3.
From problems to answers
 Recognize a problem or opportunity
 Devise idea(s) to solve the problem
 Product/process development
 Product/process testing
 Refine product/process (and more
testing)
 Communication of concept/results
 Implementation – leads to impacts

4.
Technology Transfer: the
challenges of integration
 Process/product not practical
 Unfamiliarity with product/process
 Much to lose if product fails
 Previous bad experience
 Wait-and-see attitude
Producer input – early and often –
will result in a more successful integration

5.
Why Extension?
 Expertise in applied research
 Expertise in adult education
 Established relationships with key
producers (those who influence other
producers and consumers)

6.
Input from Utah producers
 Need to develop “brand recognition”
 Terminology in marketing will be
important
 Would like to see pony-packs and liners
 Need to test in the dry, sometimes low
organic matter and/or salty soils of the
Intermountain West

7.
Input from Utah producers
 Will be especially useful for woody
plants
 Potential use in simplifying the planting
process for woody plants
 Possibility for “custom” pots with
different degradation rates?
 Is their a way to include other nutrients
besides N? (P, K, micronutrients?)

8.
USDA Specialty Crops
Research Initiative RFA
 “…include explicit mechanisms to
communicate results to producers and
the public.”

9.
Explicit Outreach Methods
 Workshops (for producers)
 Inservices (for county
agents)
 Field days
 Articles in trade magazines
 Producer involvement in
product/process trials

10.
Why include economics?
 How does this idea influence a
producer’s “bottom line”?
 Weigh the associated costs against the
value of potential benefits

11.
 Can strengthen the argument for
pursuing the research
 Provides a way to assess impacts
Why include economics?

12.
How to include economics
 Keep track of all costs:
 Set-up
 Recurring costs
 Time for implementation
 Cost of materials
 Cost of other inputs

13.
How to include economics
 Assign costs to inputs
 Dollar cost of production
 Dollar cost of labor hours
 Cost of materials
 Cost of potential changes in processes or
facilities to integrate the new technology

14.
How to include economics
 Assign value to new product or process
 Process takes less time? Uses fewer
inputs?
 Can sell product at a better price?
 Product is more marketable?
 Product fills a niche?
 Product creates a niche?

15.
Questions? Comments?