|
LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Craft Beverage Council (MCBC) today announced the recipients of it 2023 research grant program. The 10 selected projects total $350,000 in funding for research and education, advancing agricultural inputs for craft beer, spirits, wine, and hard cider. Six of the proposals selected are continuation projects in good standing.
“Michigan’s craft beverage industry continues to be launching pad for many household brand names found in your local stores,” said Dr. Timothy Boring, Chair of the Michigan Craft Beverage Council and Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
“This expanding industry is a true success story. Not only for the new businesses taking hold and providing valuable jobs, but it’s also increasing demand for new specialty crops, giving producers more avenues to diversify their crops and build resiliency on their farms. I’m proud that Michigan is a destination for world-class craft beverages while supporting next-level growth for our breweries, distilleries, wineries, and cideries.”
The 2023 research grants align with the following research priorities of the Council: climate change impact; crop quality, new varieties, and flavor profile analysis for hops, grapes, fruit, small grains, or other agricultural inputs used in craft beverage production; sustainable water-use and wastewater/process water discharge projects; increasing use of Michigan agricultural products in craft beverage production; and benchmarking best practices accelerating the use of local agricultural inputs.
Projects selected for 2023 research funding include:
- Investigation of apple fruit rot control and of the diversity of wild yeast populations on hard cider apple varieties with outcomes on fermentation, Michigan State University
- Field level late season cluster rot management to increase the crop quality of wine grapes from Michigan vineyards, Michigan State University
- Meeting Michigan's grape and wine industry educational needs in 202, Michigan State University
- Developing quality analysis protocols for non-barley grains used in craft beverages, Michigan State University
- New apple varieties for MI hard cider production, Michigan State University
- Wastewater characterization of craft beverage industries in Michigan, Lakeshore Environmental
- Meta analysis and diagnostics to improve hop and barley quality through improved late season disease management, Michigan State University
- Monitoring grape growing conditions in Charlevoix County, Phenology Wine and Cider
- Evaluation of corn varieties for the Michigan craft distilling industry, Michigan State University
- Evaluation of vermifiltration on winery wastewater, Lakeshore Environmental
At the close of the grant cycle, final reports will be posted to the Council’s website research database. Searchable by keyword, author, year, category and crop, the database is designed to make the research of the Council easily accessed by industry members.
For more information about the Michigan Craft Beverage Council, including grants, grower connections, business support, and a map of craft beverage licensees, visit michigancraftbeverage.com.
###
The Michigan Craft Beverage Council is a 10-member, governor-appointed board that is advisory to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and was established to provide for research, marketing and promotion of Michigan agricultural products that are used in the production of Michigan craft beverages.
|
