Complete Story
03/06/2009
Battelle Researcher Nationally Recognized by Soybean Industry
Contact:
Jamie Butts
Ohio Soybean Association
Ohio Soybean Council
614.476.3100
jbutts@soyohio.org
NEWS RELEASE
March 6, 2009
Battelle Researcher Nationally Recognized by Soybean Industry
WORTHINGTON, Ohio- The American Soybean Association (ASA) and the United Soybean Board (USB) recently recognized Dr. Bhima Vijayendran, a bioproducts researcher from Battelle, during the Commodity Classic in Grapevine, Texas. Vijayendran received ASA's Special Meritorious Award and USB's Outstanding Achievement Award for his above-and-beyond dedication and many accomplishments in the field of soy-based bioproduct research and development. The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) and the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) nominated Vijayendran for these awards.
"It is an honor to be recognized by the United Soybean Board and American Soybean Association for my work with soy-based technologies," said Vijayendran. "The soybean industry is helping to lead the way into the future, and that future is in biobased products."
For the past thirteen years, in partnership with the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC), USB and other industry affiliates, Vijayendran and his research team at Battelle have developed many new and exciting soy-based technologies in an effort to increase the utilization of soybeans. Several of these technologies have received national and international recognition.
Since 2002, OSC and Battelle's partnership has resulted in four R&D 100 awards for the development of soy-based products. Known as the ‘Oscars of Innovation', these awards are reserved for only the top 100 technological innovations of the year. The most recent technology to receive this recognition was soy-based powder coating in 2008. Previous awards were given for soy-based plasticizer in 2002, soy-based toner in 2003 and soy-based polyols in 2007. Also in 2008, in conjunction with Advanced Image Resources, OSC and Battelle received a Presidential Green Chemistry Award from the Environmental Protection Agency for the soy-based toner.
"The expertise that Bhima brings to his work at Battelle with soy-based products is unmatched," said Keith Kemp, OSC chairman. "The technologies that have been developed at Battelle under his leadership are a testament to the cutting-edge research that is being done as a result of our great partnership."
And not only has this research resulted in these prestigious awards, Battelle and OSC have also entered into license agreements with companies to commercialize some of these technologies, including soy-based toner and plasticizer. This commercialization is the next step in creating a strong new market for soybeans.
"The demand for more environmentally-friendly products continues to grow, and I believe soybeans can be a big part of filling that demand," said Vijayendran.
As one of the leading recognized authorities on specialty chemical and polymer systems for a wide range of applications, Vijayendran's passion for developing technologies derived from soybeans is unmatched, resulting in his eminent position among biobased product researchers in the world. Already, Vijayendran has had a substantial impact on the soybean industry through his soy-based bioproduct research, and as more technologies are developed and commercialized, his contributions to the soybean industry will have an even greater impact.
"Bhima has been an invaluable asset to the soybean industry here in Ohio and the U.S., and we were very excited to see him nationally recognized for his work," said Mark Watkins, OSA president. "The soy-based technologies he has contributed will help ensure a successful future for the growing bioproducts industry, as well as a strong bottom line for soybean farmers."
The Ohio Soybean Association is governed by a 24-member volunteer farmer board dedicated to education and promotion, as well as to uniting producer interest through support of legislative activities beneficial to the Ohio soybean industry.
The Ohio Soybean Council is governed by a 16-member volunteer farmer board, which directs the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The program's primary goal is to improve soybean profitability by targeting research and development projects through the investment of farmer-contributed funds.
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