BMEBT Seminar
When: Friday,
October 20, 2017
3:00 PM
-
4:00 PM
Where: Textiles Building 101E
Description: SEMINAR by Philip Lessard, Ph.D., from Agrivida Inc.
TOPIC: A New Platform to Produce Enzymes for Livestock Production
DATE: Friday, October 20, 2017
TIME: 3 PM
LOCATION: (TEXT 101E ) Textiles Room 101E
Abstract: Global demand for high-quality dietary protein is driving the expansion of livestock production. The sustainability of chicken, egg, and pork production, in particular, depend on the development of nutritionally balanced animal feeds. The largest components of animal feed are agricultural products such as corn and soy, which provide macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and oils, as well as micronutrients, such as minerals and vitamins. However, even feed that contains all of the required nutrients may be nutritionally deficient because many nutrients are present in forms that make them difficult to digest or absorb by the animal. To compensate, a grower must either overformulate a diet (e.g. increase the amount of protein present to make up for the portion that is not well absorbed) or add nutrients from alternative and often more expensive sources. In contrast, adding enzymes to animal feed is a strategy that allows the animals to extract more nutritional value from feed by allowing them to digest and absorb more of the nutrients that are already present in feed. This approach improves feed efficiency, reduces waste and ameliorates agricultural pollution.
Brief bio:
Dr. Philip Lessard is currently Project Manager and Head of Biochemistry at Agrivida in Medford, MA. He specializes on drawing on traits found in organisms, including fungi and bacteria, that break down plants. He previously was a Research Scientist & Instructor at MIT. He holds a Ph.D. in Biology and Biomedical Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis.
NOTE: All BMEBT Graduate Students are ENCOURAGED to attend.
All interested parties are invited to attend. Open to the public.
For further information, please contact Dr. Chris Brigham at 508-999-9149 or by email atcbrigham@umassd.edu.
TOPIC: A New Platform to Produce Enzymes for Livestock Production
DATE: Friday, October 20, 2017
TIME: 3 PM
LOCATION: (TEXT 101E ) Textiles Room 101E
Abstract: Global demand for high-quality dietary protein is driving the expansion of livestock production. The sustainability of chicken, egg, and pork production, in particular, depend on the development of nutritionally balanced animal feeds. The largest components of animal feed are agricultural products such as corn and soy, which provide macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and oils, as well as micronutrients, such as minerals and vitamins. However, even feed that contains all of the required nutrients may be nutritionally deficient because many nutrients are present in forms that make them difficult to digest or absorb by the animal. To compensate, a grower must either overformulate a diet (e.g. increase the amount of protein present to make up for the portion that is not well absorbed) or add nutrients from alternative and often more expensive sources. In contrast, adding enzymes to animal feed is a strategy that allows the animals to extract more nutritional value from feed by allowing them to digest and absorb more of the nutrients that are already present in feed. This approach improves feed efficiency, reduces waste and ameliorates agricultural pollution.
Brief bio:
Dr. Philip Lessard is currently Project Manager and Head of Biochemistry at Agrivida in Medford, MA. He specializes on drawing on traits found in organisms, including fungi and bacteria, that break down plants. He previously was a Research Scientist & Instructor at MIT. He holds a Ph.D. in Biology and Biomedical Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis.
NOTE: All BMEBT Graduate Students are ENCOURAGED to attend.
All interested parties are invited to attend. Open to the public.
For further information, please contact Dr. Chris Brigham at 508-999-9149 or by email atcbrigham@umassd.edu.
Contact: BMEBT Seminar Series
Topical Areas: Faculty, Staff and Administrators, Students, Students, Graduate, Students, Undergraduate, Bioengineering