Corn Stalk Residue Could Take Us to the Stars

May 09, 2023

By Lori Walsh and Ellen Koester et.al

A new NASA EPSCoR grant will help South Dakota Mines researchers explore the next generation of lithium sulfur batteries. Those batteries could be powered by the waste produced from processing plants.

The research was a team effort that spanned disciplines at South Dakota Mines. A few of the experts who worked on this project joined In the Moment to explain their work and unexpected discovery.

Rajesh Shende, Ph.D., is a professor of chemical and biological engineering. He specializes in finding uses for agricultural byproducts.

And Edward Duke, Ph.D., is a professor of geology and geological engineering and the director of the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium and the South Dakota NASA EPSCoR Program.

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Video: Why the Fertilizer Crisis Won’t End When the Iran War Does

The fertilizer crisis didn’t start with war — it revealed a system already under strain.

Seed World U.S. Editor Aimee Nielson breaks down what’s really happening in global fertilizer markets and why the impact on farmers may last far longer than current headlines suggest. Featuring insights from global fertilizer expert Melih Keyman and industry leaders Chris Abbott and Chris Turner, this conversation explores:

Why fertilizer supply was already tight before geopolitical disruption

What the Strait of Hormuz and global trade routes mean for input availability

How rising nitrogen prices are crushing farmer margins

Why this crisis could affect seed choices, crop mix and acreage decisions

The hidden risks around phosphate and sulfur supply

Why experts say this situation may get worse before it gets better

Even if tensions ease, the underlying issues — supply constraints, investment gaps and purchasing behavior — are still in play.

Watch to understand what this means for farmers, the seed industry and the future of global food production.