研究

奶牛场的牛群规模为2头,000 animals (average size of a herd in Idaho) and will be located in the heart of the state’s dairy producing region. While research data generated at CAFE will have broad implications across the U.S., the semi-arid environment where most of Idaho’s dairies are located will make CAFE’s research indispensable in the water-constrained West. 咖啡馆的位置, herd size sand research scope make it uniquely positioned to address real-world issues facing the dairy and 食物 processing industries.

通过应用研究, 外展及教学, the 爱达荷州农业、食品和环境中心 will be a sustainable agriculture system focused on providing global solutions to ongoing issues facing agriculture, 食物, 环境和社会，现在和未来几年.

动物相关与环境研究

The sustainability of the dairy industry relies on the ability to address concerns regarding the health and welfare of animals in commercial dairies and tackle issues related to a dairy’s “footprint” or environmental impact. These efforts will require a balanced approach between increasing productivity and efficiency while maintaining a sustainable ecosystem. 涉及多学科的研究将:

• Determine best practices ensuring animal health and welfare with high-quality milk production
• Evaluate feed ingredients to meet requirements for good health and productivity
• Implement robotic systems into herd management and milking and evaluate long-term use
• Assess alternative housing systems to improve cow comfort and longevity
• 检查低压力处理和运输
• Evaluate systems to efficiently deliver irrigation water and nutrient management
• 从废物中创造增值副产品

农业研究

The Magic Valley region produces some of the highest quality crops in the country. 在生产中维持这一标准, CAFE will explore the relationships between animal and crop agriculture — an interdependent connection in the Magic Valley. 农艺研究将:

• 寻找经济的方法来提高水和土壤质量
• Assess alternative feeds which may require less use of chemicals and water in production of feed ingredients
• 通过综合病虫害管理提高饲料产量, 以及更好地管理土壤健康, 灌溉方法和可再生能源技术的使用
• Evaluate approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairies
• Analyze policy and legal approaches promoting environmental protections

食品科学研究

研究 in multiple disciplines can contribute to innovations in 食物 safety and quality to:

• Improve dairy management to ensure safe production, transport and handling of milk
• Identify processing and production innovation to reduce 食物 safety risks
• Innovate new products with functional 食物 and other healthful attributes
• Improve engineering in 食物 processing to maximize 食物 quality and safety
• 减少食品加工对环境的影响
• Train current and future employees for the 食物 processing industry

外展及教育

CAFE will provide extensive opportunities to engage with the community. 其中一些努力将:

• 扩大社区职业培训项目
• Increase awareness and knowledge of the industry for the local community
• Provide continuing education for producers and farmworkers through on-site workshops, 在线活动和专业会议
• 鼓励伦理学家之间的对话, 行为学家, dairy scientists and veterinarians to communicate findings to the public

员工发展

A strong partnership with the College of Southern Idaho and many of their faculty involved in agricultural programming and workforce development will allow CAFE to address industry employment needs across the spectrum. 伊利诺伊大学和CSI的合作伙伴关系将:

• 扩大为受名额限制的学生提供的教育
• 增加犹他大学和CSI之间的共享学位选择
• Offer continuing education opportunities for those already in the workforce
• 加强工人安全培训
• Build a pipeline of educated students prepared to enter the workforce

Agricultural production associated with dairy in Idaho impacts Idahoans’ quality of life in many ways. CAFE research will improve sustainability in the industry by enabling producers, dairies and 食物 processors to adopt practices and policies to meet the sustainability requirements of their customers.

CAFE的研究也将涉及经济问题, social and cultural sustainability of rural communities and diverse populations as well as the quality and sustainability of air, land and water resources of the rural communities impacted by the dairy industry.

另外, research through CAFE will support the economic vitality of agricultural and 食物 production by expanding markets and 食物 products to increase Idaho’s GDP. CAFE will encourage the development of innovative new 食物 products and product attributes, along with identifying new market opportunities nationally and internationally. 

教师 expertise will address issues in the following disciplines:

动物科学

• 乳制品
• 群健康
• 生殖生理
• 反刍动物营养
• 兽医昆虫学

环境科学

• 空气质量
• 生物能源生产
• 土木和/或机械工程
• 农作物/水建模
• 数据管理和/或可视化
• 水系统管理

社会科学

• 农业经济
• 农业教育
• 扩展教育
• 农村社会学
• 科学传播

植物科学

• 生物地球化学
• 种植制度农学
• 饲料作物农学
• 土壤科学

食品科学

• 食品安全微生物学
• 感官食物加工