The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) recently presented Hongwei Xin, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor and Iowa Egg Council Endowed Professor in the departments of agricultural and biosystems engineering and animal science, its 2016 Henry Giese Structures and Environment Award for exemplary leadership in research and design of enhanced poultry and livestock production systems.
Xin is the inaugural director of the Egg Industry Center located at ISU. His research and extension endeavors include ensuring welfare of poultry breeding stocks during long-distance shipment. He has also focused on helping the poultry industry achieve environmentally friendly manure management by filling information gaps on manure production and nutrient profiles.
Xin and his team also has worked to improve efficiency of animal housing and climate control through updating the foundational data on heat and moisture production rates of modern swine and poultry and their housing systems.
Xin, with a team of researchers, also worked on improving energy efficiency and animal welfare for swine farrowing operation and improving air quality and environmental stewardship of animal feeding operations by quantifying and mitigating emissions of noxious gases, particulate matters and airborne bacteria of production facilities. His research team is investigating potential airborne transmission of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus that took a devastating toll of 48 million birds in the U.S., and explores possible practical means to reduce HPAI transmission risks.
A 32-year member and a fellow of ASABE, Xin has long involvement in the Environment of Animal Structure technical committee. He has also been a leader in the Poultry Housing technical committee. Xin provided leadership in planning the seventh, eighth, and ninth International Livestock Environment Symposium. Xin’s expertise was called upon as associate editor for the Structures and Environment division (now called the Natural Resources and Environmental Systems technical community). Xin is also a leader in the Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological, and Food Engineers. He is founding member of the Global Expert Group on Avian Influenza and the Global Roundtable on Sustainable Egg of the International Egg Commission.
Xin has authored or coauthored more than 420 refereed journal articles, book chapters, conference proceeding papers, and technical papers. He has been selected for many honors and awards including the Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions award from ISU, the ISU award for Outstanding Achievements in Research, the ISU David R. Boylan Eminent Faculty Research award, and the US Poultry Workhorse of the Year award from U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, among many others.