Print“This scientific investment will lay the foundation for a source of fuel made from renewable sources.”
Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $8.9 million in research awards under a joint DOE-USDA Plant Feedstocks Genomics for Bioenergy initiative aimed at improving and accelerating genetic breeding programs to create plants better suited for bioenergy production. The awards are part of efforts to create a domestic fuel industry and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
“Cost-effective, sustainable biofuels are crucial to building a clean energy economy,” says Chu. “By harnessing the power of science and technology, this joint effort between the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture will help accelerate research in the critical area of plant feedstocks.”
“This scientific investment will lay the foundation for a source of fuel made from renewable sources,” says Vilsack.
The research grants are focused on fundamental investigations of biomass genomics, with the aim of harnessing lignocellulosic materials, or nonfood plant fiber, for biofuels production. Emphasis is on perennials, including trees and other nonfood plants that can be used as dedicated biofuel crops. Since such crops tend to require less intensive production practices and can grow on somewhat poorer quality land than food crops. They could be a critical element in a strategy of sustainable biofuels production that avoids competition with crops grown for food.
The research will make use of the most advanced technologies and techniques of today's genomics-based systems biology. It combines DOE’s genome-scale technologies with USDA's experience in crop improvement to accelerate development of specialized crops and improve their effectiveness as feedstocks for biofuels production.
New projects to be funded this year aim at enhancing productivity, yield, nutrient and water utilization, and sustainability of plant feedstocks. Research focuses on better understanding of basic plant processes that control cell wall composition, plant architecture, cell size and division, wood formation, nutrient uptake, carbon allocation and on the impact of temperature and water availability.
The Department of Energy’s Office of Science will provide $6.9 million in funding for seven projects, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will award $2 million to fund two projects. Initial funding will support research projects for up to three years.
September 03, 2010
http://www.burrillreport.com/article-usda_and_doe_fund_biofuel_genomics_research.html
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