USDA Grants Support Sustainable Bioenergy Production

LANSING, Mich. In an effort to spur production of bioenergy and biobased products $10 million in research grants have been awarded leading to the development of sustainable regional systems. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack pointed to a recent study released by Iowa State University (ISU), and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which finds that while the use of biobased products in automobile manufacturing is increasing, there are still many parts in the top-selling automobiles manufactured in the United States that may be replaced with biobased materials. USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded the grants through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). AFRI's sustainable bioenergy challenge area targets the development of regional systems for the sustainable production of bioenergy and biobased products that: contribute significantly to reducing dependence on foreign oil; have net positive social, environmental, and rural economic impacts; and are compatible with existing agricultural systems. The long-term goal for the research projects, which were selected through a highly competitive process, is to implement sustainable regional systems that materially deliver liquid transportation biofuels to help meet the Energy Independence and Security Act goal of 36 billion gallons per year of biofuels by 2022. The programs focus on the many environmental, social and economic benefits and trade-offs associated with decisions and policies regarding the where, when, and how of national and regional biofuels development. Projects were awarded in four areas: 1) policy options for and impacts on regional biofuels production systems, 2) impacts of regional bioenergy feedstock production systems on wildlife and pollinators, 3) socioeconomic impacts of biofuels on rural communities, and 4) environmental implications of direct and indirect land use change. Fiscal year 2012 awards include: University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., $36,000 Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz., $350,000 University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., $345,689 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $496,996 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $497,851 Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, $493,210 University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, $499,009 University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, $350,000 Michigan State University, Lansing, Mich., $349,695 University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn., $498,786 University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn., $349,996 Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss., $273,120 University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., $499,447 Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo., $94,258 Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, N.J., $349,963 Duke University, Durham, N.C., $349,084 University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla., $466,534 Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore., $349,624 Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa., $149,977 Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., $348,959 Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., $50,000 University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $350,000 Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $255,972 Texas AgriLife Extension, College Station, Texas, $499,619 Washington State University, Pullman, Wash., $349,993 West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.V., $349,952 University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., $496,109 University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., $345,327 USDA Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, Ill., $500,000 AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. Each award was made through a competitive selection process. An external peer review panel reviewed all proposals and made award decisions based on scientific merit to the best and brightest scientists across the nation. The ISU report, Biobased Automobile Parts Investigation, shows that "the history of biobased automobile parts begins early in the development of automobiles themselves. During the 1930s, automobile pioneer Henry Ford began developing soy-based automobile parts." The report goes on to highlight how a variety of U.S. automobile manufacturers are showing a greater commitment to exploring biobased options, and provides a variety of resources for policymakers and other decision-makers interested in exploring the issue.