Location: Nutrition, Food Safety/Quality
Project Number: 0204-41510-001-098-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 17, 2020
End Date: Aug 16, 2025
Objective:
The supplemental funding will enable extension of the projects initiated in its establishment of a Bioproducts Development Program (BDP). The three tracks of the BDP are: 1) development of value-added bioproducts from biomass, 2) reduction of particulate emissions and ash formation of forest-based biomass, and 3) wood flour production from secondary processing mill residues.
Approach:
Initial activity is focused on scientific principles of protective packaging materials, renewable building products (including insulation), forest-based biomass energy, and forest-based composite feedstocks. All project activity will be augmented with an assessment of the sustainability impacts of their end applications within the framework of a forest-based circular bioeconomy with an aim to evaluating and improving post-harvest production “hotspots” in the value chain.
The BDP will also include project activity focused on fundamentals in the use of Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF) and Lignin Cellulose Nanofibrils (LCNF) for wood fiber packaging with a focus on grease and oxygen barrier paperboards. Finally, the application of Cellulose ontology and informatics will be developed as a method to develop a tool which will accelerate the development of cellulosic materials and products. These two activities involve intimate involvement with scientists from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory. This involvement will include graduate student advising and support.
