Sustainable Bioenergy

The NIFA Division of Bioenergy supports the development of regional systems for sustainable production of bioenergy and biobased products. It works to implement dedicated regional energy crop systems that materially deliver liquid transportation biofuels to help meet the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 goal of 36 billion gallons/year of biofuels by 2022 and reduce the national dependence on foreign oil. 

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In Focus

• NIFA details AFRI sustainable bioenergy program long-term vision
• NIFA awards FY 2012 AFRI research grants to support sustainable bioenergy production
• NIFA Loblolly Pine Coordinated Agricultural Project leads to initial draft of the Loblolly Pine Genome
• Agriculture and Energy Departments announce new investments to drive innovations in biofuels and biobased products
• NIFA awards Biomass Research and Development Initiative Grants to spur new markets, innovation, and opportunity in Rural America
• Secretary Vilsack announces major investments to spur innovation and job creation in research, development and production of next generation biofuels
• USDA announces grants to study climate change mitigation and bioenergy development with the Loblolly Pine Coordinated Agricultural Project
• Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan spurs production of bioenergy and biobased products with visit to Michigan State University

Funding

• Sustainable Bioenergy Research, AFRI
• Foundational Program, AFRI
• Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy, AFRI
• Biofuels and Biobased Products, SBIR
• Critical Agricultural Materials Program
• Biomass Research and Development Initiative

Applicant Resources

• Webinars (Stakeholder Feedback and RFA Development)
• More Information about AFRI
• Regional Sustainable Bioenergy Projects Factsheet
• Sustainable Bioenergy Division Factsheet
• Logic Model Planning

Selected Results and Impacts

• Loblolly Pine Research for Sustainable Bioenergy Project web site
• USDA and DOE feedstock genomics awards
• NIFA Loblolly Pine Coordinated Agricultural Project
• Joint Meeting April 2011: Genomic Science Awardee Meeting IX and USDA-DOE Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy Awardee Meeting Abstracts
• Brochure for Northeast Bioenergy & Bioproducts Educational Program: Professional Development for Educators
• NIFA-funded biofuels and bioenergy projects
• NIFA-funded woody biomass programs and projects

Partners/Partnerships

• Department of Energy/Plant and microbial genomics memorandum of understanding

Resources

• Recorded presentation of NIFA Grant Writing Workshop at the Agronomy Society of America, October 18, 2011 Meeting
• Advancing ReNewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at USDA, USDA
• GBEP Sustainability Indicators for Bioenergy, United Nations 
• Renewable Fuel Standard, Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy, National Academies Press
• Woody Biomass Bioenergy, US Government

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Events

• 2012 Sustainable Bioenergy Project Directors Meeting at the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meeting, October 21–24, 2012:

  • Regional Approaches to Sustainable Bioenergy Systems,
    Sunday, October 21, 2012, 12:30– 4:30 pm