Progress 08/01/05 to 08/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We continued our broad-based educational activities on the Sun Grant Initiative and ag-based bioenergy and bioproducts through presentations and panel discussions at five national bioenergy meetings: Iowa State University's Bioeconomy Conference, August 2006; USDA/DOE Bioenergy Conference October 2006; USDA-ARS New Crops and New Uses Conference, October 2006; BIO Conference on Industrial Biotechnology, March 2007. We also launched the BioWeb on April 1, 2007 which is an online encyclopedia on bioenergy and bioproducts (bioweb.sungrant.org). The BioWeb project was funded through a special grant from the US-DOE. It contains all peer-reviewed science-based information that is also distilled down by technical writers into language appropriate for the general audience reader. Another outcome is establishing a regional grant program at each Regional Sun Grant Center. A US-DOT special grant provided the funds for the regional grant program. Each Regional Center drafted an RFA based on regional and Dot input. The grant application and review process was facilitated by an online grant application and review system (WEBNIBUS) specifically adopted for each Regional Sun Grant Center from the Sea Grant Program at Oregon State University. PARTICIPANTS: Sun Grant Association Executive Director, Terry Nipp; North East Regional Sun Grant Center-Cornell University, Larry Walker and Corey Rutzke; South East Regional Sun Grant Center-University of Tennessee, Thomas Klindt and Timothy Rials; South Central Regional Sun Grant Center-Oklahoma State University, Clarence Watson and Raymond Huhnke; North Central Regional Sun Grant Center-South Dakota State university, Jim Doolittle, Kevin Kephart and Kim Cassel; West Regional Sun Grant Center-Oregon State University, Thayne Dutson and Jan Auyong. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for the Sun Grant Initiative includes Land-Grant Universities (1862, 1890, and 1992) and federal agencies such as the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Transportation. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The Sun Grant Initiative has gained national recognition for its efforts to link Land Grant Institutions across the nation with resources to develop teaching, research, and outreach programs in biofuels and bioproducts to help America increase its energy security.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 08/01/06 to 07/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We continued our broad-based educational activities on the Sun Grant Initiative and ag-based bioenergy and bioproducts through presentations and panel discussions at five national bioenergy meetings: Iowa State University's Bioeconomy Conference, August 2006; USDA/DOE Bioenergy Conference October 2006; USDA-ARS New Crops and New Uses Conference, October 2006; BIO Conference on Industrial Biotechnology, March 2007. We also launched the BioWeb on April 1, 2007 which is an online encyclopedia on bioenergy and bioproducts (bioweb.sungrant.org). The BioWeb project was funded through a special grant from the US-DOE. It contains all peer-reviewed science-based information that is also distilled down by technical writers into language appropriate for the general audience reader. Another outcome is establishing a regional grant program at each Regional Sun Grant Center. A US-DOT special grant provided the funds for the regional grant program. Each Regional Center drafted an RFA based
on regional and Dot input. The grant application and review process was facilitated by an online grant application and review system (WEBNIBUS) specifically adopted for each Regional Sun Grant Center from the Sea Grant Program at Oregon State University.
PARTICIPANTS: Participants in Planning the Sun Grant Initiative by Regional Sun Grant Center include: Larry Walker and Corey Rutzke, NE Regional Sun Grant Center, Cornell University; Tom Klindt and Tim Rials, SE Regional Sun Grant Center, University of Tennessee; Clarence Watson and Ray Huhnke, SC Regional Sun Grant Center, Oklahoma State University; Kevin Kephart and Jim Doolittle, NC Regional Sun Grant Center, South Dakota State University; Thayne Dutson and Jan Auyong, Western Regional Sun Gant Center, Oregon State University. In addition to these regional directors there was Terry Nipp the Executive Director of the Sun Grant Association.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for the Sun Grant Initiative are the Land Grant Universities and their stakeholders across the United States of America and its territories.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes.
Impacts
The Sun Grant Initiative has gained national recognition for its efforts to link Land Grant Institutions across the nation with resources to develop teaching, research, and outreach programs in biofuels and bioproducts to help America increase its energy security.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 08/01/05 to 08/01/06
Outputs
The Sun Grant Initiative (SGI) has partnered with the USDA, US-DOE and regional governor's associations in facilitating biofuel biomass partnerships by coordinating regional feedstock workshops. The goal of these partnerships is to facilitate the development, evaluation and delivery of existing and emerging biomass feedstocks in an economically feasible and environmentally sustainable manner. The goals of the initial workshops are to establish dialog and a working partnership among the entities invited and to identify potential agricultural-based biofuel feedstocks in each region that could be utilized to meet the 1.3 billion ton feedstock target identified in the Billion-Ton Study. The first feedstock workshop was hosted by the SE SGI at the Univ. of TN during May-06. The second was hosted by the NC SGI at SD State Univ during Aug-06. Three more workshops are being planned for 2007 by the other SGI Centers. The specific goals and outcomes for the first two workshops
were similar. The main differences were in the sources of feedstocks. More attention was given to woody feedstocks in the SE while more attention was given to the herbaceous in the NC. A summary the potential feedstocks in the NC are as follows: Crop Residues-17 residues from existing or potential crops were identified. The majority is expected to come from small grain straw, corn stover, manure, and dried distiller's grains. The projected estimates in the Billion-Ton Study are thought to be excessive. Critical reexamination of the assumptions used must be done and adjusted for regional differences such as yield stability/consistency and temporal variations. Starch & Oilseed Crops-existing annual row crops in the Region can produce 65 billion gallons of transportation fuels by 2030 while still meeting food, feed and export markets. This will require innovative cropping systems that have sustainability and multiple marks in mind. Lignocellulosic and Perennial Feedstocks-the Region can
exceed the biomass production predictions if the economic return for lignocellulosic feedstock exceeds existing agricultural production systems. None of the rangeland and very little (<10%) pasture land will be converted to bioenergy crop production. The land base will come from marginal lands capable of supporting a perennial crop and existing cropland. There are many areas in the North Central Region that can supply a 50 million gallon per year biorefinery with enough lignocellulosic feedstock from within a 25 mile radius. Woody Crops-hybrid poplar, cottonwood and willow are potential feedstocks. Woody crops have the distinct advantage of year-round harvest and self storing. A conceptual model of a mixed cropping system could produce 400,000 dry tons of biomass per year where 8 to 10 thousand acres of woody crops are planted each year into agricultural and urban landscapes. Forest Resources -There are forest resources available for both liquid fuels and wood energy. The estimates in
the Billion ton Study are reasonable, but anticipate the North Central Region to contribute 5 to 10 million dry tons per year. Policies that restrict supply from public lands is a major concern.
Impacts
This cross collaboration on regional biofuel biomass feedstock partnerships will help to identify research priorities and potential barriers for achieving the goal of significantly reducing the US's dependency on imported fuel by 2030.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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