ARS Role in Bioenergy The ARS Bioenergy Program is a flexible, long-term research effort involving coordinated thrusts in feedstock development (FD), sustainable feedstock production systems (SFPS), and biorefining (B). The holistic nature of ARS bioenergy research ensures that bioenergy production is integrated into existing agriculture in ways that provide consistent, attractive returns to producers, minimize adverse impacts on existing markets for food, feed and fiber, and demonstrate good stewardship of soil, water and air resources. Given the ARS mission and the breadth of ARS research capabilities in all three major bioenergy research areas (FD, SFPS, B), most notably spanning all aspects of FD & SFPS for solving complex technical problems involving multiple agricultural industries (food, feed, fiber and fuels), in agriculture-associated natural resources, including carbon cycling and water utilization, that can be targeted at any agricultural region in the Nation, ARS has a unique ability to implement this integrated approach and enable the Nation to optimize bioenergy production as soon as possible.
ARS Bioenergy Research Strategy Enable new varieties and hybrids of bioenergy feedstocks with optimal traits (Feedstock Development) Enable new optimal practices and systems that maximize the sustainable yield of high-quality bioenergy feedstocks (Sustainable Feedstock Production Systems) Enable new commercially-preferred biorefining technologies (Biorefining) Cross-component Coordination Teams Cellulosics to EtOH/BuOH Lipids to fuels Starches/sugars to EtOH/BuOH Thermochemical & catalytic processing 2
ARS Bioenergy Research Multiple national programs contribute Bioenergy (213) Agricultural quality & utilization (306) Forages (215) Crop Improvement & Protection (301, 302, 304) Agricultural System Competitiveness & Sustainability (216) Soil Management (202) Manure & Byproduct Utilization (206) Global Change (204) Water Availability and Watershed Mgmt. (211) 3
ARS Bioenergy Research and Invasive Bioenergy Crops ARS headquarters does not support research on potentially invasive plants for bioenergy production without first assessing the risks and/or developing varieties/practices to mitigate the risks Close coordination with John Lydon (NP 304) Miscanthus Adam Davis (Urbana, IL) David Burner (Booneville, AR) 4
Feedstock Development Biological and molecular basis for plant traits Understand molecular basis for key traits (cell-wall structure, growth biomass yield, conversion potential) Breeding and evaluation of new germplasm Improved germplasm & varieties for energy crops 5
Sustainable Feedstock Production Systems Region-specific, sustainable practices to maximize feedstock harvest Whole-farm optimization tools to incorporate bioenergy feedstock production into farm operations Analytical tools to estimate potential feedstock amounts and the implications of harvest on natural resource base Decision tools for farmers and biorefinery operators On-farm utilization of biorefinery coproducts Physical, chemical and biological value of byproducts as soil amendments and nutrients 6
Biorefining Biocatalytic (EtOH & BuOH) starches & sugars (1 st gen.) cellulosic (2 nd gen.) Biodiesel fuel quality (cold flow, oxidative stability) Thermochemical pyrolysis gasification ARS Strengths Biorefinery co-products/byproducts for each biorefining platform Biocatalysis Techno-economic analyses identify R&D goals & priorities Early-stage technology transfer plans Focus Going Forward 1. Farm-scale 2. Feedstock-flexible Biorefining pilot facilities 7
ARS Bioenergy Research Interagency Coordination Inter-Departmental: Biomass R&D Board Interagency Working Groups Scientist exchange program with DOE-OS Bioenergy Research Centers Interagency Working Group on Plant Genomes Intra-USDA: USDA Energy Council USDA Biobased Products & Bioenergy Coordination Council (BBCC) 8
For more information www.ars.usda.gov/biofuels www.ars.usda.gov/bioenergy 9