Research

Research

The quality lab, pilot plant, grain center and feed mill tower of the ISU Feed Mill & Grain Science Complex are state-of-the-art facilities designed to support undergraduate and graduate student, post-doctoral, visiting scholar, faculty and external collaborator research projects in grain, feed and animal science, technology, engineering and management.

ISU faculty conducting research in support of the grain, feed and animal value chain are appointed through the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station They receive competitive grant funds from USDA-National Institute for Food & Agriculture (NIFA), USDA-Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS), NC-213/The Andersons Research Grant Program, as well as from companies, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), and others. Research results are reported annually as part of the NC-213 (and other) Multi-State Research Projects and peer reviewed journal articles.

2025 Research Progress Reports

Developing and Operationalizing Quality and Food Safety Management System at FMGSC to Address the Challenges Faced at US Feed Mills. - Esther Akoto

Assessment and Approaches for Achieving Net-Zero Carbon Emissions for Grain Drying, Handling and Storage Operations - Younus Sabbir

Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) of Grain-to-Screw Conveyor Interaction for Predicting Effects of Inclination Angle and Moisture Content on Mass Flow Rate and Power Requirement - Kusi Fordjour

Integration of Cable-free Grain-Sensor Networks with Computational Fluid Dynamics to Predict Stored Bulk Ingredient Conditions - Dr. Dirk Maier

Development and Testing of Inline Temperature and Moisture Content Measurement of Feed Mash for Thermal Processing Control - Louissa Amofah

Standard Method for Assessment and Digital Twin–Enabled Optimization of Hammer Mill Performance - Dr. George Obeng-Akrofi

Utilization of the new ISU Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex for Research, Education and Outreach - Dr. Dirk Maier

2024 Research Progress Reports

Utilization of the new ISU Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex for Research, Education and Outreach – Dr. Dirk E. Maier 

Assessment and Approaches for Achieving Net-Zero Carbon Emissions for Grain Drying, Handling and Storage Operations – Younus Sabbir 

Performance Evaluation and Optimization of Thermal Processing During Feed Mash Manufacturing – Lexi Lambros

Developing and Operationalizing Quality and Food Safety Management System at FMGSC to Address the Challenges Faced at US Feed Mills – Esther Akoto

Integrated approaches for profitable shea nut value chain enhancement: A case study in rural Ghana – Dr. George Obeng-Akrofi

2023 Research Progress Reports

Engineering Properties to Characterize Performance of Hermetic Storage Bag Technology – Dr. Cristine Ignacio

Decision support tools to guide assessment and adoption of postharvest technologies and to ensure food security – Dr. Hory Chikez

Advanced Modeling of Stored Grain Ecosystems for Cables-Free Grain Storage Management – Jordan Wright

2025 Peer Journal Publications

Nishimwe, K., Bowers, E. & Maier, D.E. 2025. On-farm evaluation of aflatoxin binder inclusion in dairy feed as a strategy to reduce milk aflatoxin M1 contamination in the Rwandan context. Mycotoxin Research 41, 207–214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-024-00576-9

Obeng-Akrofi, G., Maier, D.E., Rosentrater, K.A., Brumm, T.J., Akowuah, J.O. 2025. Evaluation of Moisture Sorption Isotherm for Shea Nuts, Vitellaria Paradoxa. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 41 (2):169-178. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.16087

Petingco, M., Wei, M., Elsayed, S., Casada, M., Maier, D.E. 2025. Evaluating airflow uniformity in covered outdoor piles through computational fluid dynamics simulations. Journal of the ASABE. 68(4): 659-672. https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/cfa5ba3a-1ea4-4fe8-b1bd-47f85d0b59b6/content

2024 Peer Journal Publications

Mandap, J.A.L., Hellmich, R.L., Busman, M., Maier, D.E., Munkvold, G.P. 2024. Protection from stored grain insects using transgenic maize hybrids and implications for Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination. Journal of Stored Products Research 106, 102258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2024.102258

Sserunjogi, M., Bern, C.J., Brumm, T.J., Maier, D.E., Phillips, T.W. 2024. Mechanical stirring of bulk-stored maize in steel bins to suppress maize weevils and other beetle populations. Journal of Stored Products Research 106, 102281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2024.102281

Chayaprasert, W., Maier, D.E. 2024. Fumigation Process Using Chemicals and Controlled or Modified Atmospheres: Formulations, Introduction, and Monitoring. Pp. 190-240. In:  Control and Management of Pests in Stored Products. Jayas, D. (editor) CRC Press. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781003309888-6/fumigation-process-using-chemicals-controlled-modified-atmospheres-watcharapol-chayaprasert-dirk-maier

2023 Peer Journal Publications

Obeng-Akrofi, G., Maier, D.E., White, W.S., Akowuah, J.O., Bartosik, R., Cardoso, L. 2023. Effectiveness of hermetic bag storage technology to preserve physical quality attributes of shea nuts. Journal of Stored Products Research, 101, 102086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2023.102086

Aby, G.R., Maier, D.E. 2023. Distribution of brick- versus spherical-shaped wireless sensors as a function of gravity-filling a storage silo and their recovery from the corn grain mass during unloading. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 39(1):63-68. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.15276

Aboagye-Nuamah, F., Kwoseh, C.K., Maier, D.E. 2023. Prevalence and stakeholders’ perception of mycotoxins in the Ghanaian poultry feed value chain. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 23(2):22354-22375. https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.117.23090

Elsayed, S., Casada, M.E., Maghirang, R.G., Wei, M., Maier D.E. 2023. Numerical simulation of phosphine movement in bulk-stored grain. Journal of the ASABE. 66(3): 747-764. https://doi.org/10.13031/ja.15378

Ignacio, M.C.C.D., Maier, D.E., Vorst, K. 2023. Engineering properties of commercially available hermetic storage bag liners. Journal of the ASABE, 66(3): 601-615. https://doi.org/10.13031/ja.15366

Chikez, H., Maier, D.E., Olafsson, S., Sonka, S. 2023. Identifying critical drivers of mango, tomato, and maize postharvest losses (PHL) in low-income countries and predicting their impact. Agriculture 13 (10), 1912. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101912

Ignacio, M.C.C.D., Rosentrater, K.A., Maier, D.E. 2023. Estimating environmental and economic impacts of hermetic bag storage technology. Sustainability 15 (20), 14850. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014850

Mendoza, P.T.D., Hurburgh, C.R., Maier, D.E., Armstrong, P.R. 2023. NIR Spectral Imaging for Animal Feed Quality and Safety. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 39 (6), 553-564. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.15051

Akoto, Y. E. and Maier, D. E. 2023. The Mechanism of Drug Carryover in Feed Manufacturing as a Function of Drug Properties and Equipment Design—A Brief Review. Agriculture 2023, 13, 1834. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091834

2022 Peer Journal Publications

Obeng-Akrofi, G., Akowuah, J. O., Maier, D. E. ., & Addo, A. 2022. Selection of an appropriate biomass burner for drying maize in a crossflow column dryer using an analytic hierarchy process. Journal of Applied Agricultural Science and Technology, 6(2), 107-119. https://doi.org/10.55043/jaast.v6i2.63

Coradi, P.C., Lemes, A.F.C., Müller, A., Jaques, L.B.A., Dubal, I.T.P., dos Santos Bilhalva, N., Teodoro. P.E., Steinhaus, J.I. & Maier, D.E. 2022. Silo–dryer–aerator in fixed and thick layer conceptualized for high quality of grains applied in different social scales post-harvest: modeling and validation, Drying Technology, 40:7, 1369-1394, DOI: 10.1080/07373937.2020.1870040

Nishimwe, K., Bowers, E.L., de Dieu Ayabagabo, J., Habimana, R., Mutiga, S., Maier, D.E. 2022. Preliminary sampling of aflatoxin M1 contamination in raw milk from dairy farms using feed ingredients from Rwanda. Mycotoxin Research, 38, 107–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-022-00454-2

Mompremier, R., Bern, C., Bowers, E., Brumm, T., & Maier, D.E. 2022. Field testing of Purdue improved crop storage (PICS) bag maize storage in Haiti. Journal of Stored Products and Postharvest Research, 13(1), 1-5.

2021 Peer Journal Publications

Nishimwe, K., Agbemafle, I., Reddy, M.B., Keener, K., Maier, D.E. 2021. Cytotoxicity assessment of Aflatoxin B1 after high voltage atmospheric cold plasma treatment. Toxicon, 194, 17-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.02.008

Plumier, B.M., Maier, D.E. 2021. Effect of temperature sensor numbers and placement on aeration cooling of a stored grain mass using a 3D Finite Element Model. Agriculture. 11:231. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11030231

Owusu Sekyere, E., Obeng-Akrofi, G., Akowuah, J. and Maier, D.E. 2021. Performance analysis and drying kinetics of maize in an AflaSTOP dryer. Open Journal of Applied Sciences. 11:3. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojapps.2021.113024

Aboagye-Nuamah, F., Kwoseh, C.K., Maier, D.E. 2021. Toxigenic mycoflora, aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination of poultry feeds in Ghana. Toxicon, 198:164-170

Maier, D.E., Chikez, H. 2021. Recent Innovations in post-harvest preservation and protection of agricultural products (editorial). Agriculture, 11, 1275. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11121275

Obeng-Akrofi, G.; Akowuah, J.O.; Maier, D.E.; Addo, A. 2021. Techno-Economic Analysis of a crossflow column dryer for maize drying in Ghana. Agriculture. 11, 568. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11060568

Chikez, H., Maier, D.E., Sonka, S. 2021. Mango postharvest technologies: An observational study of the Yieldwise Initiative in Kenya. Agriculture. 11, 623. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11070623

Rau, T.S., Bern, C.J., Brumm, T.J., Barnes, R.B., Bbosa, D., Maier, D.E. 2021. Evaluation of stirring to suppress weevils in stored maize. Journal of Stored Products Research, 93, 101849, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2021.101849

Sserunjogi, M., Bern, C.J., Brumm, T.J., Maier, D.E. 2021. Periodic disturbance time interval for suppression of the maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in stored maize (Zea mays L.). Journal of Stored Products Research, 94, 101875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2021.101875

2020 Peer Journal Publications

Vipham, J.L., Amenu, K., Alonso, S., Ndahetuye,J.B., Zereyesus, Y., Nishimwe, K., Bowers, E., Maier, D.E., Sah, K., Havelaar, A., Grace, D.. 2020. No food security without food safety: Lessons from livestock related research. Global Food Security, 26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100382

Plumier, B.M., Schramm, M., Ren, Y., Maier, D.E. 2020. Modeling post-fumigation desorption of phosphine in bulk stored grain. Journal of Stored Products Research. 85:101548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2019.101548

Access to full length articles and articles published prior to 2020 are available at:

ISU Digital Repository:

https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/100314

ORCID iD:

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2583-0011