Developing Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Rural Southeastern North Carolina: An Update
Dr. Michael Menefee, Dr. Len Holmes & Floyd L. Inman III
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Pembroke, NC 28372 USA
UNC Pembroke Entrepreneurship and
Economic Development
Dr. Michael MenefeeUniversity of North Carolina at Pembroke
Robeson County
• Founded in 1787 with Lumberton as its seat
• Named after Col. Thomas Robeson, a Revolutionary War hero
• Area (951 sq. mi):– Land (949 sq. mi)– Water (2 sq. mi)
• Population density approximately 129 per mi2
Website: www.co.robeson.nc.us
38.0%
32.0%
25.0%
5.0%1.0%
Native AmericansCaucasiansAfrican-AmericansHispanicsAsians
Ethnic Populations of Robeson County
Total population in Robeson County = 123,339*
*Based on 2000 U.S. Census
Economic Issues
• Between 1997 and 2009, Robeson County lost 9,000 manufacturing jobs (41% of workforce)
• Significant increases are still seen in:– Unemployment– Crime– Poverty– Bankruptcies
• Teen pregnancy and school dropout rates are continually high
Economic Issues
• Neighboring Scotland County lost 3 major manufacturers and 3 smaller firms
• Scotland County has the highest unemployment rate in the state at 17%
• According to the state economic rating system, 7 out of 10 counties within the UNCP area were ranked as tier 1*
*(in most need of economic development)
University of North Carolina-Pembroke
• UNC Pembroke has three Centers that aim to stimulate economic development and growth:
– Small Business Technology and Development Center
– Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship
– Biotechnology Research and Training Center
Small Business Technology and Development Center
• Provide management and educational services
• Assist businesses meet challenges and plan for the future.
• Offers specialize market development assistance for:
– Procurements– International business– Technology development – Technology commercialization
Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship
• Created to improve economic development by:1. Encouraging entrepreneurship among citizens
2. Training students to open and run small businesses
3. Providing assistance to existing businesses
4. Address social problems
5. Attracting new businesses to the area
“Economic development and personal success are attained through entrepreneurs and innovators who thrive on imagination, creativity, and passion.”
Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship
• Goals are to:1. Stimulate entrepreneurial thinking through
education
2. Support entrepreneurs and new ventures in Southeastern North Carolina
• The Center focuses on:1. Education
2. Research
3. Planning
4. Community engagement
Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship
• Strives to stimulate small business development to create jobs and build community wealth
• Uses the history of entrepreneurial success to build a base for future prosperity
• Supports the business community by:1. Providing one-on-one consulting and evaluation
services
2. Help students to develop entrepreneurial competencies and knowledge
Entrepreneurship and Biotechnology
• Entrepreneurship of UNCP Biotechnology is supported by the NCIIA
• NCIIA granted UNCP a Course and a Program Grant for two years (2011-2013)
• Grant and matching funds provided for:1. Enhancing entrepreneurship programs
2. Purchasing equipment for nematode project
3. Project consulting and prototyping support
4. Supplies for biotechnology research
5. Development of e-teams
6. Faculty research and travel
UNC Pembroke Biotechnology
Dr. Len Holmes & Floyd L. Inman IIIUniversity of North Carolina at Pembroke
Biotechnology Research and Training Center
• With an area of 5,000 ft2, the facility provides laboratories for:
• The Center has the capacity to address most research problems in most sectors of biotechnology:
AgriculturalBiomanufacturing
EnvironmentalBiomedical
FermentationChemistryMolecular biology
MicrobiologyOther life science
technologies
Biotechnology Research and Training Center
• The goal of the Center is to stimulate the transformation of knowledge to increase the economic well-being of Southeastern North Carolina
• Core activity of the Center is to establish and develop innovative training and research opportunities.
Biotechnology Research and Training Center
• The Center’s specific aims are to:
1. Increase the number of higher-paying biotechnology positions
2. Increase the availability of a trained work force
3. Offer entrepreneurs technology, business support and connection to capital sources
Biotechnology Research and Training Center
• The Center’s main sustainable research project are:
1. Honey Bees and Honey Bee Products
2. Mass production of beneficial nematodes
UNC Pembroke Honey Bee Research
• New Director: Dr. Reggie Oxendine Jr.
• Research promotes the art and business of beekeeping.
• Honey bee industry injects $6 million into N.C. agriculture
• From 2006-2011, bees accounted for 68% fruit and vegetable production in N.C. (~25% of total crop productivity)
UNC Pembroke Honey Bee Research
• UNCP gifted, sold, and established hives for:
Farmers Gardeners University faculty High schools Community colleges
• Consults with regional master beekeepers and the Robeson County Beekeepers Association
UNC Pembroke Honey Bee Research
• Future honey bee initiatives include:Use of beneficial nematodes to
protect hives from hive beetles and wax moths
Rearing queen honey bees for commercialization
Production and harvesting honey, honeycomb and other honey bee related products for commercialization
Mass Production of Beneficial Nematodes
• Beneficial nematodes are a safe and organic alternative to chemical insecticides
• These nematodes parasitize crop insect pests
• Species that are currently researched are Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema carpocapsae.
Mass Production of Beneficial Nematodes
• Nematodes are mass produced in fermentation systems with their microbial counterparts
• Counterparts are Photorhabdus luminescens and Xenorhabdus nematophila
• Mass production has significant economic potential due to minimum global producers
Mass Production of Beneficial Nematodes
• Mass production technology is mainly proprietary and complex
• Mass production approach heavily focuses on:
Fermentation technology Bacteriology Nematology
Entomology Symbiosis
Mass Production of Beneficial Nematodes
• Partnerships with local farmers and gardeners will enable the Center to field-test nematode products such as efficacy, safety and application rates.
Mass Production of Beneficial Nematodes
• During one month, two maximum capacities (40 liters) of medium can be processed.
• Current technologies allow for batch production yields* of:
– 4 billion (H. bacteriophora)• 8 billion nematodes per month
– 8 billion (S. carpocapsae)• 16 billion nematodes per month
*Yields results from nematode recovery, life cycle, & egg production
Potential Profit Margin of Nematodes
Theoretically based upon current distributor pricing:
H. bacteriophora S. carpocapsae
Package quantity
UNCP Retail price
Production cost per package*
Profit per package
UNCP Retail price
Production cost per package*
Profit per package
10 million $29.95 -$5.69 $24.26 $29.95 -$2.84 $27.11
50 million $67.75 -$28.44 $39.31 $67.75 -$14.22 $53.53
250 million $198.00 -$142.19 $55.81 $198.00 -$71.10 $126.90
*Indirect and packaging costs not included
Monthly Analysis of Nematode Production
*Indirect and packaging costs not included
Theoretically based upon current retail pricing:
H. bacteriophora
Package quantity
Packages produced
Retail price Total sales Production
cost * Profit
10 million 800 $29.95 $23,960.00 $4,555.00 $19,405.00
50 million 160 $67.75 $10,840.00 $4,555.00 $6,285.00
250 million 32 $198.00 $6,336.00 $4,555.00 $1,781.00
S. carpocapsae
Package quantity
Packages produced
Retail price Total sales Production
cost * Profit
10 million 1,600 $29.95 $47,920.00 $4,555.00 $43,365.00
50 million 320 $67.75 $21,680.00 $4,555.00 $17,125.00
250 million 64 $198.00 $12,672.00 $4,555.00 $8,117.00
Mass Production of Beneficial Nematodes
• Current product produced by UNCP Biotechnology is Brave-Guard.
• Product consisting of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora nematodes
• Patent application for media formulation and process technology has been initiated through University channels
Current Situation
• UNCP has the ability to commercialize beneficial nematodes.
• Production scale-up is the next challenge
• The employment of three full-time scientists by the University
• The development of Brave-Guard
Current Situation
• A course involving invention and new product development has been proposed for UNCP curricula.
• Elevator competitions have been created from outside support
• The development of four business startups
• $350,000 has been raised for a new business incubator in downtown Pembroke.
Top Related