UA-led consortium awarded large grant

The University of Arkansas will lead a research consortium with the aid of a $2.5 million grant from the Initiative for Future Agricultural and Food Systems, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The three-year project hopes to benefit consumers with antioxidants and other medicinal substances derived from crops from the region.

The grant is for five institutions working on the three-year project. Luke Howard and Terry Siebenmorgan, from the department of food science, are leaders of the UA team of nine scientists.

The scientists will identify and document levels of specific antioxidants and other medicinal compounds in varieties and breeding lines of rice, blueberries, red grapes, spinach and watermelon.

Other research objectives include the determination of effects of production, storage and processing methods of phytonutrients; to develop methods to extract, concentrate and stabilize bioactive phytonutrients; to evaluate health benefits of phytonutrients in whole food products or as dietary supplements; and to develop consumer education material on health benefits of phytonutrient-rich foods.

Howard said antioxidants are called functional foods because they tie up free radicals that cause oxidation of body tissue. “An analogy is to say that our bodies are rusting and antioxidants stop the rusting,” Howard said.

Farmers could benefit greatly from the research should there be an increased demand for crops with high levels of antioxidants.

Other UA faculty on the project include Terry Howell from food science, Teddy Morelock, John Clark and Brad Murphy from horticulture, Robert Cross and Robert Beitle from chemical engineering and Rosemary Rodibaugh, an extension nutrition specialist.