Washington, DC – The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), the research division of the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA), recently signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to explore the use of biodegradable animal and plant by-products for the production of biodegradable nursery containers. The initial research effort will concentrate on the use of feather-derived plastics from the waste stream of the poultry industry. The CRADA was signed by HRI’s Director of Research & Regulatory Affairs, K. Marc Teffeau and Associate Administrator of the USDA-ARS, Antoinette A. Betschart, on Wednesday, April, 19, 2006, at an outdoor reception at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, MD.

“It is, indeed, a privilege and pleasure to be here on this beautiful spring day to sign the CRADA between HRI and USDA-ARS. It is, however, built on a long-standing and valued relationship between ARS and ANLA. Over the years, we at ARS have found HRI/ANLA’s wise counsel and articulate voice on many issues, invaluable,” says Betschart.

The three year CRADA focuses on development of the technology and manufacturing process to develop biodegradable nursery pots that can be recycled or composted after the plants have been put in the ground. According to HRI’s research director Teffeau, this effort is a “win-win” situation all around. The resulting products will reduce the land-filling needs required for both the feather waste from poultry processing and the plastic pots after landscape installation of the plant material. It will also help to improve the profit margin for growers by giving them a viable alternative to the escalating cost of pots made from petroleum resins.

“ANLA’s grower community is committed to producing ornamental plant material in an environmentally- sustainable fashion that both beautifies and enhances our natural environment. Growing plants in biodegradable containers that can be composted by the end user or at landfill sites is a logical extension of our sustainable emphasis. This is a new, exciting endeavor for HRI and takes us one step closer to its mission of being the research and development leader of the green industry,” says Teffeau.

The USDA-ARS/HRI CRADA also gives HRI the option to negotiate an exclusive license on behalf of the nursery industry for the commercial production of products developed from this research effort.

Founded in 1963, HRI has directed more than $4.3 million of industry funds to 600 research projects covering the full range of production, environmental and business issues important to the green industry. HRI distributed $335,000 in grants for its 2006 scholarships and research competitive grants program.

For more HRI information, contact K. Marc Teffeau, ANLA director of research and regulatory affairs, (202) 789-2900 ext. 3017 or email, mteffeau@anla.org.