AGRICULTURAL, BIOSYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

National Ag Day 2012

Welcome!

The good old days—they were terrible!

—Norman Borlaug

A civilization will flourish only when it can produce food in excess of farmers’ needs—Author unknown

Photos: USDA-NRCS

Where we came from

Where we are today

Photos: Gabriele OnoratoUsed under a Creative Commons License

Some measures of success

US agricultural output quadrupled between 1930 and 2000, while aggregate inputs remained similar

(Gardner, 2003)

21.5% of Americans were directly employed in agriculture in 1930 — in 2000 it was less than 2% (Dmitri et al., 2005)

320,000 farm operators (0.1% of population) produce 90% of US agricultural output (Conkin, 2008)

In 1930, there were 18.7 work animals and 920,000 tractors — by 1970, tractors had essentially replaced animal power (Dmitri et al., 2005)

In 1900, it took 147 hours of labor to produce 100 bushels of corn — it took 3 hours in 1990 (Conkin, 2008)

Success comes at a cost

Air and water pollution Reliance on fossil fuels Health effects of agricultural chemicals Impact of intensive agriculture on

ecological services

• World population expected to hit 9 billion by 2050

Finding Solutions for Life on a Small Planet

• Growing world population requires more food, water, energy, goods• Limited resources demand we do more with less, without degrading our natural world

Food and Bioprocess Engineering

Information & Electrical Systems

Structures & Environment

Biological Engineering

Natural Resources

Energy

Specialty

Areas

Forest Engineering

Aquacultural Engineering

Safety, Health, Ergonomics

Nursery & Greenhouse Engineering

Power Systems & Machinery Design

Biological EngineeringApplying engineering practice to problems and opportunities presented by living things and the environment

• Pest control• Hazardous waste treatment• Environmental protection• Bioinstrumentation• Bioimaging• Medical implants and devices• Plant-based pharmaceuticals and

packaging materials

Natural ResourcesImproving conservation by understanding the complex mechanics of soil and water

• Wetlands protection• Water control structures:

dams, reservoirs, floodways • Drainage• Erosion control• Pesticide and nutrient runoff• Crop water requirements• Water treatment systems• Irrigation

Food and Process EngineeringUsing microbiological processes to develop useful products, treat municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes, and improve food safety

• Packaging, storage, transportation of perishable products

• Pasteurization, sterilization, irradiation techniques

• Food processing techniques & technologies

• Biomass fuels• Nutraceuticals,

phamaceuticals• Biodegradable packaging

materials

Information & Electrical TechnologiesPerhaps the most versatile specialty area, it’s applied to virtually all others

• Data acquisition and “Bioinformatics”—biorobotics, machine vision, sensors, spectroscopy

• Electromagnetics

• Global positioning systems

• Machine instrumentation and controls

Structures & EnvironmentEngineering a healthy environment for living things• Animal housing

• Grain storage

• Waste storage, recovery, reuse, transport

• Climate, ventilation, disease control systems

Power Systems & Machinery DesignImproving efficiency and conservation in agricultural, food, and biological systems• Agricultural tractors, combines,

implements, and transportation equipment

• Turf and landscape equipment

• Equipment for special crops• Irrigation equipment

• Farmstead equipment

• Food processing equipment

EnergyDeveloping renewable energy sources, devising energy conservation strategies to reduce costs and protect the environment• Devising new ways of meeting

the energy needs of agriculture

• Meeting the energy needs of the general population by using agricultural products and by-products

• Biomass, methane, vegetable oils

• Wind and solar energy

Aquacultural EngineeringPreserving our natural fish populations and habitats through improved aquacultural practices.

• System design for fish farms

• Water quality, machinery, feeding, ventilation

• Pollution reduction and water conservation

• Ecological reuse or disposal of waste

• Product harvesting, sorting and processing

Nursery & Greenhouse EngineeringA microcosm of large-scale production agriculture, with similar needs

• Irrigation, mechanization

• Disease and pest control

• Temperature, humidity, ventilation control

• Plant biology: tissue culture, seedling propagation, hydroponics

ForestryApplying engineering principles to forestry management and conservation

• Machine-soil interaction and erosion control

• Operations analysis and improvement

• Equipment design

• Wood product design

• Access systems design and construction

Safety, Health and ErgonomicsMaking agriculture safer, more efficient, and more economical

• Compile and analyze health and injury data

• Standardize equipment for component compatibility

• Encourage safe use of machinery, equipment, and materials through better design and better communication

Definition

Agricultural and Biological Engineering is the discipline of engineering that applies engineering principles and the fundamental concepts of biology to agricultural and biological systems and tools, ranging in scale from molecular to ecosystem level, for the safe, efficient and environmentally sensitive production, processing, and management of agricultural, biological, food, and natural resources systems.

Source: http://www.asabe.org/news-public-affairs/about-this-profession.aspx

Working with Nature

Same equations — different application Systems approach Understand natural and biological

processes Inherent variation in our “media” Biological components integrated in

everything we do Sustainability

Balance Environmental, Economic, and Societal Benefits

Example

Like other farmers in the West, Roger Barton must irrigate the alfalfa hay he raises for horse owners. And like many farmers, Barton has to be creative to make ends meet. When diesel costs rose to $4.25 per gallon a couple of years ago, Barton came up with a new, non-diesel-powered way to run his center pivot irrigation system. With the help of a Conservation Innovation Grant from NRCS, Barton worked with a pump company and NRCS engineers to design a hydroturbine system that generates electricity to power his pivot irrigation system. (USDA-NRCS website)

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at SDSU

Water and Climate Animal Production Systems Machinery Food and Fuel Processing

Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringWater & Climate

Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringFood & Bio-Renewable Processing

Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringAnimal Production Systems

Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringAgricultural Machinery Engineering

Biological and Agricultural Engineers—what do they do?

• Develop solutions for responsible, alternative uses of agricultural products, byproducts and wastes and of our natural resources - soil, water, air, and energy

• Devise practical, efficient solutions for producing, storing, transporting, processing, and packaging agricultural products

• Solve problems related to systems, processes, and machines that interact with humans, plants, animals, microorganisms, and biological materials

Water and

Climate

Animal Producti

on Systems

Machinery

Food and Fuel Processi

ng

Check steam pressur

e

Test water quality

Test dust concentrati

on

Bust a truss

Inspect construction progress

Test engine performanc

e

Test sprayer

uniformity

Measure water

flow rate

Check the

material handling

line

Who Employs Agricultural and Biological Engineers

3MAbbott LabsAGCOAnheuser BuschArcher Daniels MidlandBASFBriggs & StrattonCampbell's SoupCaterpillarCH2M HillCase CorpDoleDow ChemicalExxon MobilFlorida Light & PowerFord Motor Co

General MillsGrinnell Mutual ReinsuranceJohn DeereKellogg'sLockheed MartinM & M MarsMonsantoMorton BuildingsNASANew HollandRalston PurinaSunkistUSDA Agricultural Research ServiceUSDA Natural Resource Conservation ServiceUS Department of EnergyUS Environmental Protection Agency

Source: ASABE. http://www.asabe.org/news-public-affairs/about-this-profession.aspx

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers in the Community

NRCS Engineering Staff in South Dakota

Huron State Office Brookings Field Support Office Pierre Field Support Office Rapid City Field Support Office

Other government agencies South Dakota DENR

Consulting Engineers

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers in the Community

Equipment Buhler Industries – Salem Equipment Dealers

Precision Ag Raven Industries

Ag Structures Landmark Builders

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers in the Community

Fuel Processing POET – Sioux Falls (Headquarters) Valero

Food Processing Davisco Bel Brands Hormel

Making the World a Better Place Producing and

Processing Food, Feed, and Fuel

Managing and Protecting our Environment and Natural Resources

Waterand

Climate

Animal Producti

on Systems

Machinery

Food and Fuel Processi

ng

Managing and

Protecting our

Environment and

Natural Resources

Producing and

Processing Food, Feed,

and Fuel

Safe and abundant food and water

Plentiful and renewable energy resources

A healthy environment in which to liveTimber and fiber

for shelter and clothing

www.asabe.org