Unique experiment station evolves, makes progress

By MITCH LIES
Capital Press

PORTLAND -- The Food Innovation Center, Oregon's only urban experiment station, is "well poised" to survive the current budget crisis, said station superintendent Michael Morrissey.

The station "is doing better in product development than I would have thought, given what the economy is doing," Morrissey said.

Three years after taking over superintendent duties at the station, Morrissey said it is doubtful the station can become self-sustaining soon.

The station's founders once hoped the station would be able to pay its own way.

"You're several years down the road on that," Morrissey said. "And you would hate to see all support from the state disappear, because you're an experiment station, and part of your mission is to help out programs within the state.

"We've been forced to wean ourselves little by little and lean more on grants and client services, but I think we would always want some level of base funding," he said.

The station uses federal grants to research food traceability advancements, Morrissey said. And it conducted nearly 200 product development projects in 2009 for companies and individuals in the food industry. Those projects are funded with client service fees.

Also in recent years, the center has shifted its focus from entrepreneurial activities to working more with established Oregon businesses.

"I see that (the start-up business activities) as one component of what FIC does," Morrissey said, "but traditional industries are the bread and butter of Oregon's economy in the food area.

"So working more with traditional industries is very important to me," he said.

Oregon State University College of Agriculture Sciences Dean Sonny Ramaswamy said he views the center as a valuable asset.

"It is one-of-a-kind in the world as an urban experiment station," Ramaswamy said. "We're going to strengthen it. We're looking at offering additional services for small companies that want to test and create new products.

He also sees possibilities beyond state borders.

"We view the FIC as a place that Washington State University and the University of Idaho can come in and utilize the facilities to help meet their processing needs," Ramaswamy said.