News

New center at Ohio State helps drive development of the U.S. rubber industry

Researchers at the Ohio State University are working to increase domestic production of rubber. 

Professor Judit Puskas says a federal grant from the National Science Foundation will fund research from experts in engineering, biology, and agriculture.  

“Having seven partner universities, four core partners, and Ohio State as the lead,” she says. “It covers all kinds of research starting from growing alternative plants.”

Center director Ajay Shah tells Brownfield the funding is initially for five years, and if research shows promise additional funding could be awarded. 

“We’ll work on the front end, where we’ll improve the traits of different crops,” he says. “We’ll try to improve the rubber content as well to try to make sure that it grows. We can grow it at scale, so that is one of the big goals.”

Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security (TARDISS) will be housed at Ohio State’s College of Agricultural, and Environmental Science (CFAES) Wooster campus.