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Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

Driving Economic Transformation

Inside IALR Podcast: Cutting-Edge Analytical Chemistry Testing Services

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Inside IALR Podcast: Cutting-Edge Analytical Chemistry Testing Services

Inside IALR Podcast: Cutting-Edge Analytical Chemistry Testing Services

The “Inside IALR” team sits down with Senior Analytical Chemist, Yimeng “Jack” He, and Vice President of Applied Research, Dr. Scott Lowman, to discuss what analytical chemistry is (1:02). They discuss the primary capabilities and services offered by IALR’s chemistry lab such as Quality Control (QC) testing, stability studies, method development, and optimization and validation (2:21). Jack highlights some of the different pieces of equipment in the lab (9:05) and explains how it compares to other chemistry labs. Dr. Lowman also highlights the differences between fundamental and applied research (25:03) and how the analytical chemistry lab factors into IALR’s other research initiatives.

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Circ – How IALR Supports Industry

Circ – How IALR Supports Industry

The average piece of clothing is worn between seven and 10 times before it is discarded.

Most of those clothing articles end up in the landfill, the incinerator or dumped somewhere around the world.

Less than 1% of textile waste from clothing is recycled back into clothing.

Most of these clothing articles are made from polycotton, a mixture of polyester and cotton. A Danville–based business, Circ is a circular fashion company that implements a unique technology to separate the polyester and cotton, allowing both materials to be recycled and used to create additional clothes later. (Previous efforts to separate these two fibers would result in the destruction of one material or the other.)

“The building blocks of clothing are natural resources like petroleum, cotton or metals. You can take those building blocks from clothing and turn them back into clothing – that’s what we do. It’s closed-loop garment recycling. But you also can take the building blocks from clothing and turn them back into something else. In the end, the building blocks are commodities that can be recycled many, many times.” – Dr. Iulian Bobe, Circ Co-Founder

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has rented lab space and provided various analytical chemistry and research services to Circ throughout the company’s life cycle, epitomizing the mission of regional economic transformation and industry-driven programs, services and support.

“It’s just incredible to see a company grow and be a part of that growth. It’s also very rewarding and at the core of our mission of economic transformation.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research, IALR

The Company Story

In the mid 2010s, Circ’s initial focus was a technology that would extract sugars and oils from tobacco to produce biofuels. Funding from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission helped the company – then known as Tyton BioSciences – locate in Danville. The hydrothermal technology they developed for the separation process worked, but they saw potential in a different application that also had deep ties to Southern Virginia: textiles.

“We learned a lot about biomass and how to extract those molecules from tobacco. That technology helped us with textile recycling, the application we do today.” – Dr. Iulian Bobe, Circ Co-Founder.

Under the new company name of Circ, they are working to create a circular fashion industry where commodities and products are recycled and reused instead of going straight to the landfill after one use. Circ is facing this issue from multiple fronts by creating new recycled yarn for other brands to use and establishing themselves as their own functional brand.

Today, the company operates out of the Dan River Business Development Center and is focused on scaling operations. Circ’s unique mission and technology recently received international attention as the company became a finalist for the Earthshot Prize – a program founded by Prince William that rewards companies focused on sustainable technology and solutions.

“The story of Circ is an amazing entrepreneurial success story. With an innovative technological advancement, the company has transformed from a startup in the tobacco repurposing sector to an internationally recognized circular textile/fashion company. The story of Circ is a great example of how IALR can play a role in supporting companies throughout their life cycle with a variety of services including office and research lab space.” – Telly Tucker, IALR President

IALR Support

The Applied Research team at IALR provides services and testing and collaborates with large and small companies in Southern Virginia, around the country, and even around the world. IALR has more than 60 active nondisclosure agreements with companies worldwide.

Since Circ arrived in Danville, IALR has provided a variety of services and support.

“We basically hired IALR for characterization of the starting materials,” Dr. Bobe said.

In addition to working with IALR’s advanced materials experts, over the years, Circ has contracted analytical chemistry services and even used office and lab space on the campus until 2023.

Since Circ arrived in Danville, IALR has provided a variety of support, including advanced materials and analytical chemistry testing and characterization services.

“In economic development, our job is to compile and market all the ways that a company would benefit from doing business in our area. When recruiting new companies to Southern Virginia, IALR’s ability to provide a variety of support, ranging from testing and analytical services to temporary space to collaboration opportunities, is a major selling point.” – Linda Green, Southern Virginia Regional Alliance Executive Director, IALR Vice President of Economic Development

IALR Collaborates with AgroSpheres

IALR Collaborates with AgroSpheres

Abigail Alderson, a Research Assistant for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), and Narges Reiahisamani, a Plant Molecular Biologist for AgroSpheres, have worked together on the IALR campus for about a month. The pair have initially focused on running preliminary tests of the growing environment within the greenhouses at IALR and reading existing literature on RNA interference (RNAi), which allows researchers to target and “turn off” specific genes in particular pests.

Alderson and Reiahisamani are conducting research for AgroSpheres, a Charlottesville-based company focused on environmentally friendly crop protection products that utilize RNAi. In the coming months, they will ramp up their research efforts, using IALR’s Analytical Chemistry Lab and testing services, additional greenhouse space, and plant imaging technology to examine the impact of various products in different growing environments.

This collaboration with AgroSpheres exemplifies IALR’s commitment to partnerships and working closely with industry.

“The needs of industry fuel everything we do within the Applied Research division. Sharing our research capabilities and state-of-the-art equipment and spaces with companies like AgroSpheres is a way to contribute to industry growth, bring new companies into Southern Virginia and drive economic transformation.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research, IALR

Reiahisamani and Alderson will test AgroSpheres’ next generation RNAi biostimulants on various agricultural products, including tomatoes, peppers and canola.

“Having Narges and Abigail on the IALR campus allows us to leverage these advanced capabilities without having to build them ourselves. It also allows us to benefit from the experts on the IALR research team.” – Ameer Shakeel, Founder & CTO, AgroSpheres

Reiahisamani and Alderson will grow plants in IALR’s greenhouse but will also utilize other technologies and testing capabilities, especially in the Analytical Chemistry Lab, to measure those results better. In the future, the pair will also use one of IALR’s SMART Tables, which are precision, automated plant-imaging platforms that allow for thorough measurement across a plant growth cycle.

“We want to try their product and see how it works, confirming the results with different tests and methods,” Reiahisamani explained.

“The SMART Table will give us a way to quantify the physical traits we see without intense, expensive lab procedures,” Alderson added.

Founded in the Charlottesville area in 2016, AgroSpheres aims to transform agriculture through reliable and affordable biobased solutions. In May of 2023, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the company would invest $25 million to expand in Albermarle County, creating an additional 50 jobs. In late November the company also announced $25 million in Series B funding round with a strategic investment from FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC), a global leader in agriculture sciences.

“IALR has been a very helpful partner that we can rely on for any analytical/experimental needs, and now we are hoping to invest back into IALR and increase our presence in the Danville community.” – Ameer Shakeel, Founder & CTO, AgroSpheres

“Everyone has been accommodating and collaborative and made sure we have everything we need,” Alderson said.

IALR frequently hosts and collaborates with educators, researchers and companies from Southern Virginia and worldwide. Companies that need contract research services or are interested in utilizing labs, greenhouses or research space at IALR should contact Dr. Scott Lowman.

High School Students Experience Plant Sciences, Robotics with IALR SMART Tables

High School Students Experience Plant Sciences, Robotics with IALR SMART Tables

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) utilizes four Spatially and Mechanically Accurate Robotic Table (SMART) imaging platforms, or SMART Tables, which are automated AgTech innovations, for various experiments and research.

IALR recently installed a SMART Table at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham to give students a hands-on, memorable introduction to plant and computer science concepts. So far, students in multiple environmental science classes have conducted a simple, multi-week plant growth cycle and will examine the experiment data in the future.

“The opportunity for students to work with both plant sciences and computer science, automation and robotics at Hargrave improves their overall academic experience. By combining these fields, students gain a multidisciplinary understanding and develop practical skills that can be applied in various industries.” – Betsy Kent, STEM Chair, Hargrave Military Academy

Implementing a SMART Table at Hargrave is part of a long-term goal to utilize these unique plant imaging tables as an educational tool across Southern Virginia and beyond.

“We are always trying to inspire students and introduce them to robotics, computer science and agricultural production career opportunities. Having these types of interactions with high schools provides preliminary data and proof of concept so that we can expand into more schools.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research, IALR

SMART Tables are automated plant imaging platforms that allow researchers to automatically take thousands of photographs over a plant’s life cycle, collecting data from beginning to end.

The SMART tables consist of an aluminum frame with a tray of individual plants. Every 15 minutes, a webcam mounted to a mechanical arm, called a gantry, captures a picture of each plant. Computer analysis of pixel count and other factors allows researchers to automatically measure plant size, leaf shape, plant movement, discoloration and more. These functions are all controlled using Python code, which tells the gantry and camera when to move across the table and take photos. IALR interns and staff are continually working to improve the functionality of the SMART Tables, adding new, complex computer codes for enhanced automation and designing new systems.

Javon Brooks and Archie Hooper, both juniors at Hargrave Military Academy, said that the weeks-long experiment was memorable because they got to take care of the plants, see how the camera system worked and then eat the lettuce.

“Having a SMART Table here definitely left some excitement in the class.” – Javon Brooks, Junior, Hargrave Military Academy

“The process was really fast, and the lettuce started growing so quickly.” – Archie Hooper, Junior, Hargrave Military Academy

In these first experiments, the focus has been primarily on the environmental science and plant growth components. As Hargrave teachers learn the basics of the table’s computer interface and automated processes, students will be able to focus more on the computer science aspects of the table.

“We are just excited to be able to join forces with IALR to help all students learn about the different types of agriculture and to work on this project. I hope for additional projects and experiments that we can do together in the future.” – Betsy Kent, STEM Chair, Hargrave

In the future, this technology could integrate into different modules for the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program, a talent development model run in partnership with K12, higher education, industry and economic development.

IALR to Bolster Agribusiness Support, Research with Recent Grants

IALR to Bolster Agribusiness Support, Research with Recent Grants

Grants come from the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Several recently awarded grants are positioning the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and the Virginia Tech (VT)-IALR CEA Innovation Center to increase support for agribusinesses in Southern Virginia and conduct critical research in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector. These funds will allow the development of a food system initiative, the offering of affordable testing services for the CEA industry, and research into the impact of beneficial bacteria in CEA environments.

IALR was awarded two grants totaling approximately $250,000 from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC) along with $100,000 from an anonymous donor that will allow the creation of two new positions and the development and implementation of new services. A Specialty Crop Block Grant from VDACS revolves around the use of technology and biostimulants to enhance and promote Virginia’s specialty crops.

“This funding will position IALR to conduct more innovative research, empower regional producers to distribute their products, and provide critical testing services for the CEA industry. Each of these initiatives, which are only possible due to dynamic partnerships and intentional support from organizations like VDACS and the Tobacco Commission, directly relate to our mission of driving economic transformation.” — IALR President Telly Tucker

“Supporting the agricultural economy of Southern and Southwest Virginia has always been a top priority for the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission since it was first created nearly 25 years ago. Like many industries, agriculture is becoming increasingly advanced and so the Commission is proud to partner with IALR to ensure that Virginia farmers can meet the challenges, and reap the rewards, of advancements in fields like controlled environment agriculture and more. At the end of the day, the Commission is committed to creating new revenue streams and increasing incomes for our farmers and producers. These projects will do just that and I am pleased that the Commission chose to support them.” — Tobacco Commission Acting Executive Director James E. Campos

CEA Testing and Outreach

To address common issues CEA producers face, the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center will establish third-party product/method evaluation and testing services for CEA companies. Additionally, staff will expand outreach efforts by providing educational materials to growers. This project will provide assistance and information to benefit small, medium and large CEA producers and suppliers.

“Part of our mission at the CEA Innovation Center is to build partnerships with industry to advance CEA in VA. Through conversations with industry members, the need for a testing service was identified. This grant will allow us to meet that need by working with industry to evaluate products and ideas under greenhouse and vertical farm conditions.” — Dr. Kaylee South, Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture, Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

IALR will hire a research technician to manage these testing services. The TRRC granted $145,841 towards this initiative. Virginia Tech is also providing funds to install a Postdoctoral research position.

Value Chain Coordination

To help diversify agribusiness and increase net farm output in Southern Virginia, IALR will establish a robust local food system that connects producers and farmers with institutional buyers, food hubs and other purchasers.

Many farmers lack the time and resources to promote their goods to potential customers. Simultaneously, many large institutional buyers would like to offer local produce, meat and dairy to their employees and visitors, but they would prefer not to interact with each farmer individually. This food system will facilitate those interactions.

“An overarching focus of Applied Research at IALR is to help diversify agribusiness in Southern Virginia and increase net farm income, profitability and opportunity for new and existing farms of all sizes. This grant will allow us to meet that goal with the addition of a value chain coordinator to help create a robust local food system where farmers’ price points are met while local consumers gain greater access to their products. This will be a unique, impactful program that fits squarely into IALR’s mission of economic transformation for Southern Virginia.” — Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research IALR

IALR will hire a Value Chain Coordinator to manage the implementation of this food hub. TRRC awarded $104,452 toward this initiative. An anonymous donation of $100,000 will also support this initiative.

Specialty Crop Block Grants

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced $550,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant Funding at the end of October, and two of those grants were for research happening at IALR. Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa, Senior Scientist at IALR, and Dr. Kaylee South, an Assistant Professor of CEA within Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences who works with the CEA Innovation Center, received the grants.

Dr. Amaradasa will be researching the use of endophytes – beneficial bacteria that live inside plants and help plants grow better and tolerate stress – in the growth of strawberries in soilless systems. This research outcome would help growers increase profits in hydroponically grown strawberries by using growth-promoting bacteria.

Dr. South, Dr. Michael Evans, and other Virginia Tech researchers will develop and evaluate the use of biofungicides for the control of common diseases in CEA production. This goal will be fulfilled by developing and assessing RNAi-based biofungicides targeting grey mold in strawberry production and downy mildew in spinach production.

Specialty Crop Block Grant program funding is authorized annually by the 2018 Farm Bill. The awards resulted from a competitive grant process established by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) for funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

About IALR

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, advanced manufacturing, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s primary footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville. 

About IALR’s Mission

About the Tobacco Commission Revitalization Commission

The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission is a 28-member body created by the 1999 General Assembly. Its mission is the promotion of economic growth and development in formerly tobacco-dependent communities, using proceeds of the national tobacco settlement. To date, the Commission has created tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in Southern and Southwest Virginia.

About the TRRC

IALR, Virginia Tech, GO Virginia Region 3 Adopt CEA Roadmap to Guide Industry Growth

IALR, Virginia Tech, GO Virginia Region 3 Adopt CEA Roadmap to Guide Industry Growth

Several partner organizations recently completed the development of a strategic roadmap regarding the economic growth potential for the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia, specifically in the 15 localities within GO Virginia Region 3. Analyzing the current state of the industry, this roadmap outlines ways that the partners can support future economic growth among large and small companies in the CEA sector through a variety of initiatives tied to collaboration, research, economic development, workforce training and more.

The development of this roadmap, which was completed by the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) in partnership with IALR, was funded through a $77,000 grant from GO Virginia Region 3.

“While controlled environment agriculture is not a new industry, it is growing quickly and has major economic implications for our region. Intentional partnerships and public-private collaboration are what will allow this important sector to thrive and expand right here in Southern Virginia and across the Commonwealth. Building on the current strength of the region, this roadmap outlines several crucial steps we can take to advance the CEA industry.” — Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research, IALR

CEA involves a combination of engineering, plant and animal science, and computer-managed control technologies used to optimize plant and animal growing systems, quality and production efficiency. Growing systems range from a basic greenhouse to a fully automated system with controlled lighting, water and ventilation installed. By controlling various elements of the growing environment, CEA can decrease pesticide and water use and allow for year-round production close to consumers. The concept of CEA is not new, but more recent technological advancements like biotechnology, robotic imaging and machine learning have changed the economics of CEA as an industry.

The primary recommendation of the roadmap is the development and implementation of a comprehensive CEA hub initiative, in conjunction with or led by IALR and the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center. This hub would lead and advance five additional strategies in GO Virginia Region 3 and across the state:

  • Conduct CEA awareness and informational campaign
  • Enhance CEA-specific new venture and new enterprise development assistance
  • Continue and expand CEA technical assistance offerings to firms and to policymakers and economic developers
  • Accelerate GO Virginia Region 3 site development with CEA targets in mind
  • Continue and enhance GO Virginia Region 3 CEA-relevant workforce development and talent attraction activities

“We were excited to find that continued growth is expected in the CEA industry. GO Virginia Region 3 is well-positioned to remain competitive as a location for this growth. In addition, the CEA Hub Initiative would help the region, and the state, to better maximize this opportunity and grow CEA sector jobs of all types, from smaller start-ups to large-scale indoor farming.” — Dr. Scott Tate, Associate Director for Community Innovations, Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement  

Due to the technology used in CEA, the skillsets required tend to be more varied than traditional farming and typically appeal to a younger workforce. Although much of CEA is automated, skilled workers are still invaluable for guiding and overseeing the equipment, plant and animal health, and other hands-on work. Some common occupational areas within CEA companies include crop production, animal production and aquaculture, machinery manufacturing and computer and electronic product manufacturing.

Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr recently shared remarks during the presentation of this roadmap at IALR.

“When an organization lacks vision, it is much harder to reach the destination. This roadmap outlines how Southern Virginia can become a hub for the CEA industry and the steps needed to get there. The synergies outlined in this plan, including workforce training, research, increased awareness and site development will make Southern Virginia a CEA leader.” — The Honorable Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry

The partners involved in the study identified a total of 18 CEA companies operating or preparing to open in Virginia, seven of which are larger operators that have 50 or more employees. In all as of 2022, the team estimates there are approximately 35,000 existing CEA-related jobs in the state, 1,750 of which are in GO Virginia Region 3. Virginia has seen an increase in CEA companies locating in the state, with announcements of major projects like Plenty in Chesterfield County in 2022, expected to bring 300 new jobs and $300 million in investment to the area. Blue Ridge Aquaculture, a Martinsville-based company that is the largest indoor system producer of tilapia in the world, and AeroFarms, a leading vertical agriculture company that established one of the world’s largest aeroponic smart farms in Danville-Pittsylvania County’s Cane Creek Centre, are the largest existing CEA companies in GO Virginia Region 3.

“One of the primary goals of economic development is increasing household income, which typically leads a region’s residents to experience increased educational attainment, improved health outcomes, housing values, and household discretionary income. While large CEA companies can provide quality and high-wage employment opportunities in GO Virginia Region 3, another critical focus of this strategy is to promote and facilitate CEA-related entrepreneurship and small business opportunities, combining macro and micro approaches to grow this emerging business sector in Southern Virginia.” — Bryan David, GO Virginia Region 3 Program Director

The study identifies the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center, located on IALR’s campus, as a “unique and crucial asset and resource for innovators, policymakers and industry in the CEA sector.” This facility, which is operated through a partnership with IALR, the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, leverages the biotechnology and chemistry research at IALR and serves as a demonstration site and agricultural technology training center that brings together industry, academia and producers.

The CEA Innovation Center also serves as a co-host of the annual CEA Summit East.

“The outstanding work conducted by the whole team in developing the CEA Roadmap will help all of us to effectively work together in our common goal of making Virginia an international hub for controlled environment agriculture and utilizing the growing field of controlled environment agriculture as an economic development engine for Virginia. We are looking forward to exciting collaborations going forward.” — Dr. Michael Evans, Director of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Co-Director of the CEA Innovation Center

About GO Virginia Region 3

GO Virginia is a statewide, business-led economic development initiative with funding to invest in collaborative projects that lead to high-paying jobs in each region. The mission of GO Virginia is to encourage collaboration among business, education and government in each region. GO Virginia Region 3 is one of nine regions in Virginia and includes the counties of Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Henry, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Prince Edward and the cities of Danville and Martinsville. For more information, please visit govirginia3.org and sign up for the Region 3 monthly newsletter or connect with GO Virginia Region 3 on Facebook or LinkedIn.

About IALR

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, advanced manufacturing, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville. For more information, visit www.ialr.org.  

About the Center for Economic & Community Engagement

The Center (formerly known as the Office of Economic Development) connects Virginia Tech faculty, companies, and communities in ways that help create, retain, and enhance the availability and quality of jobs and opportunities around the Commonwealth. This includes providing applied research, technical assistance, and training services to increase clients’ abilities to prudently manage economic change and build capacity to stimulate change.