Research

Video: Odor Assessment Lab tries to tone down farm odors

University Park, Pa. — Once upon a time, the boundary between farmland and housing developments was very distinct, and farmers did not necessarily concern themselves with the odors that came from field operations. But as more people move to rural areas from urban sites, farmers and nonfarming residents have become next-door neighbors and nuisance odors have become a problem.

Penn State's Odor Assessment Lab in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering focuses on the gaseous emissions that come from agricultural sources. According to co-director Robin Brandt, the lab's researchers aim to calculate odor levels and establish baseline conditions so they can determine and share effective odor-reduction practices.

Watch a video describing their work here.

 

Click on the image above to see how Penn State researchers are calculating odor levels near farms to help lessen nuisance odors for neighbors. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Once upon a time the boundary between farmland and housing developments was very distinct, and farmers did not necessarily concern themselves with the odors that came from field operations. But as more people move to rural areas from urban sites, farmers and non-farming residents have become next-door neighbors and nuisance odors have become a problem. Penn State's Odor Assessment Lab in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering focuses on the gaseous emissions that come from agricultural sources. According to co-director Robin Brandt, the lab's researchers aim to calculate odor levels and establish baseline conditions so they can find and share effective odor-reduction practices. Produced by C Roy Parker 

Last Updated April 18, 2011

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