About
Mission
The APWMC provides infrastructure, programs, and assistance for innovative new basic and applied approaches to animal waste management with emphasis on development of knowledge and waste management options contributing toward the enhancement of North Carolina’s and the nation’s animal production industries as well as improvement of the environment and quality of life for all citizens.
Goals
- Provide objective scientific and technical assistance to animal agriculture industries and associated citizens in North Carolina relative to waste and residuals management, as well as environmental impact issues associated with waste and residuals management.
- Serve to protect the environment and efficiently utilize North Carolina’s natural resources through improved animal and poultry waste and residuals management practices on and around production and processing facilities.
- Provide personnel, facilities, and infrastructure for conducting research and extension activities on management and conversion of animal waste products and residuals into value-added products for commercial market development.
- Empower center-affiliated faculty and cooperating organizations to be successfully competitive for individual and multidisciplinary funding in the animal waste management arena.
- Facilitate in-service training in new technologies for waste management for extension agents, agricultural agencies, waste management system operators, agribusiness personnel, and other technology-user groups.
- Assist relevant state and federal agencies with on farm waste treatment conversion initiatives.
The mission, goals, and objectives of the APWMC are consistent with the mission of North Carolina State University in its unique role as the state’s land-grant Research I University. The APWMC will enhance basic and applied research and public service activities related to waste management which in turn will contribute to NCSU mission of improving the quality of life and economic viability of North Carolina and fulfilling its commitment to active stewardship.
Brief History of APWMC
The Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center (APWMC) was established in 1996 per the University of North Carolina system protocol governing Centers, Institutes, and Laboratories.
- Operated initially as a consortium with infrastructure established at NC State Lake Wheeler Field Laboratory
- Established ‘testing and services’ protocol for evaluating products and technologies for odor mitigation (primarily targeting swine industry).
- Conducted commercial and pilot-scale evaluations and demonstrations of technologies targeting water quality concerns primarily associated with swine industry.
- Worked collaboratively with NC State Dept. Marine Earth and Atmospheric Sciences to establish protocol to determine source and fate of environmental nitrogen in surface and groundwater.
- In 2000, APWMC director oversaw the NC Attorney General Agreement with Smithfield Foods, Premium Standard Farms, and Frontline Farmers to support development of environmentally superior waste management technologies for use on the companies’ North Carolina swine farms.
- Established contractual memberships with animal agribusiness industries, other land grant institutions, commodity, and economic development organizations.