Lignocellulosic Biofuels: Bioenergy Research at ARS

Authors: Rich, Joseph

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2010
Publication Date: 6/30/2010
Citation: Rich, J.O. 2010. Lignocellulosic biofuels: Bioenergy research at ARS [abstract]. American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Process Development Symposium. p. 13.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The growth and long-term viability of bioenergy production in the Nation are impeded by a number of technical and commercial barriers. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) addresses technical barriers and does so by leveraging its strengths and unique capabilities to (1) pursue technical barriers that can be overcome by ARS resources and (2) provide substantial and unique contributions towards the Nation’s bioenergy goals. ARS is pursuing three major Research Goals associated with the ARS Bioenergy Mission: •Enable new varieties and hybrids of bioenergy feedstocks with optimal traits, •Enable new optimal practices and systems that maximize the sustainable yield of high-quality bioenergy feedstocks, •Enable new, commercially preferred biorefining technologies, Long term outcomes of ARS bioenergy research… •Improves national security and the U.S. trade balance by reducing America’s dependence on imported petroleum. •Enables America’s transition to renewable sources of energy and biobased products. •Enables significant new environmentally, economically and socially sustainable economic opportunities for rural America, while minimizing disruptions to agriculture’s traditional markets for food, feed and fiber. •Enables farmers to maximize their economic returns from the Nation’s use of bioenergy and biobased products. •Enables important environmental benefits such as: o reduced greenhouse gas emissions, o increased carbon sequestration, o creating safe value-added products from wastes, o maintaining the long-term productivity of agriculturally- relevant natural resources such as soil and water, A variety of challenges in the large-scale, economic production of fuels from biomass are the focus of significant research across the globe. An overview of ongoing bioenergy research at ARS will be presented, as well as specific examples of biorefining research.