By Andi Anderson
Michigan State University (MSU) AgBioResearch has announced funding for three innovative research projects through its Growing Healthy Together Initiative, a program designed to strengthen connections between agriculture, health, food systems, and community well-being.
The initiative encourages collaboration among researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, and community partners to address complex challenges through interdisciplinary research. Each selected project will receive $100,000 in funding over the next two years to support its development and impact.
One of the projects, led by Wei Liao, Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University, focuses on converting hospital food waste into valuable resources for urban agriculture.
Working with Henry Ford Health, researchers will study how nutrient-rich byproducts from processed food waste can be safely used to support food production while reducing environmental impacts. The project aims to create a circular system that connects healthcare operations with local agriculture.
Another funded project is headed by Jenifer Fenton, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Michigan State University. Using the MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center as a hands-on learning environment, the program will introduce students from southwest Detroit to agriculture, nutrition, and healthcare career opportunities.
The project will help young learners interact with agricultural experts, nutrition specialists, MSU Extension educators, and healthcare professionals, encouraging interest in food, farming, and medical careers.
The third project is led by Chunqi Qian, Department of Radiology at Michigan State University. Researchers will explore ways to use extracts from fermented milk to support brain health and address conditions related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The project also aims to create new uses for surplus milk produced in Michigan, potentially providing dairy farmers with additional market opportunities while supporting health-focused innovation.
Kang Xia, AgBioResearch Associate Director, highlighted the importance of collaborative research in solving modern challenges. She said, “MSU scientists never cease to impress me with the ideas they bring to the table to find solutions to pressing needs in areas related to food, health and the environment.”
She further added, “What these projects show is how these systems are connected, and how the problems being experienced by each of them can be addressed simultaneously through collaborative, cross-disciplinary research. This work gets at the heart of MSU’s land-grant identity and is well aligned with USDA priorities. I’m so excited to see how Michiganders will benefit from it.”
Scott Dulchavsky, CEO of the Henry Ford Innovation Institute and Surgeon-in-Chief at Henry Ford Health, also emphasized the value of these partnerships. He stated, "It's exciting to see the truly innovative collaborations taking place between MSU and Henry Ford Health through these projects."
Dulchavsky added, "These proposals serve as just another example of the impact that's coming from Henry Ford + MSU Health Sciences, which was designed to grow the health of our state and all those living it. When world-class institutions come together like this to conduct interdisciplinary research that solves today's and tomorrow's problems, we as a state are better for it."
The Growing Healthy Together Initiative supports projects that strengthen food access, improve environmental health, promote climate resilience, and enhance cooperation across research, education, and Extension programs. Through these efforts, MSU hopes to develop practical solutions that benefit agriculture, public health, and communities across Michigan for years to come.
Photo Credit: michigan-state-university-msu
Categories: Michigan, Rural Lifestyle