Food Science Flavor Chemist Scott Lafontaine Speaker for ARA Online Discussion

Scott Lafontaine, a flavor chemist and assistant professor of food chemistry at the U of A, is one of three presenters scheduled for an Arkansas Research Alliance Project Scope online discussion on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Lafontaine, a faculty member in U of A's Department of Food Science in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, is also a scientist, researcher and co-director of the Center for Beverage Innovation with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the UA Division of Agriculture.

The discussion is from 11 a.m.-noon and is free and open to everyone.

ARA's announcement of the discussion includes this note: Arkansas alone accounts for 45.2% of total U.S. rice production, the majority used for mealtime consumption. But what if Arkansas rice farmers could enter their crops into an alternative market that is rapidly growing: beer? 

Lafontaine is leading a project to improve the brewing performance of Arkansas-grown rice through advanced phenotyping, data science and machine learning. In partnership with Anheuser-Busch InBev, the research seeks to identify rice characteristics that enhance brewing efficiency and product quality, creating new opportunities for Arkansas rice producers while supporting innovation in food production, precision agriculture and value-added agricultural products.

The mission of the Center for Beverage Innovation is to advance beverage research, innovation and education through collaboration among academia, industry and agriculture. Its vision is to establish Arkansas as a national hub for beverage innovation, linking crop genetics, flavor chemistry and product performance with goals of developing sustainable, locally sourced beverage ingredients; fostering public-private partnerships; training students and professionals; and enhancing consumer experience through data-driven design.

Other presenters on Sept. 23 are Bryan Barnhouse, president and CEO for the Arkansas Research Alliance, and Douglas Hutchings, ARA academy director.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.