Location: Nutrition, Food Safety/Quality
Project Number: 0500-00090-001-008-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2023
End Date: Jun 30, 2026
Objective:
• Research and development of new evaluation techniques, standardization, speciation, and best practices for implementation of wood based matting products.
• Research and development of novel laminated products from small diameter pine will be investigated.
• Research and development of technologies and markets for products from underutilized hardwoods, for structural applications, will be investigated.
• Pursue research to enhance the economic and utility value of timber based products such as lumber and other composites as a means of improving and maintaining timberland value and timber conversion-related jobs throughout the gulf south region of the USA.
Approach:
Work with production and right of way stakeholders in support of developing structural and allowable properties of timber mats. Identify roadblocks to implementation of structural evaluation and grading of mats and mat timbers. Include hardwood and softwood anatomical considerations. Develop high performance or high value composites from small diameter pine trees. Investigate wood protection and preservation technologies that are applicable to mass timber for use in bridges, buildings, military applications, and matting. Cooperate with USDA Forest Products Laboratory as a technical advisor.
