Summary Report on the 2012 Sun Grant National Conference: Science for Biomass Feedstock Production and Utilization

Jessica Mccord,Vance Owens,Bryce Stokes,Tim Rials

doi:10.1007/s12155-014-9509-6

Jessica Mccord, Vance Owens + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-014-9509-6

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Abstract

Abstract The 2012 Sun Grant National Conference on Science for Biomass Feedstock Production and Utilization was held on 2–5 October 2012, in New Orleans, LA, USA. The Sun Grant Initiative set out to highlight recent advances in science and technology contributing to the deployment of conventional and advanced biofuels and bioproducts from agricultural and forest systems. The Initiative, with sponsorship from the Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), assembled an agenda focusing on promoting collaboration between academic, industry, non-profit, and government partners. This special issue is comprised of a small sample of conference presentations selected to reflect important research progress and to highlight the range of issues that must be considered as the transition to biomass energy takes hold.

Highlights

Production and Utilization, held in New Orleans, LA, was structured to capture the current state of the science related to the different unit operations of the biofuels supply chain
Educational and outreach work is under way to help agricultural producers, industry, and other stakeholders prepare for a future that could include processing biomass crops for energy and other products
Regional Feedstock Partnership research was supported through a grant provided by the US Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office under award number DE-FC36-05GO85041 to the North Central Regional Sun Grant Center at South Dakota State University

Summary

Introduction

Production and Utilization, held in New Orleans, LA, was structured to capture the current state of the science related to the different unit operations of the biofuels supply chain. The first special issue, Crop Residue Considerations for Sustainable Bioenergy Feedstock Supplies, addressed developments around agricultural residue as feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production [1]. Genetics, genomics, yield Inputs, soils, nitrogen management Assessment, harvest, storage, densification, costs Processes, products Composition, methods, energy Soil quality, residues, LCA, GHG Siting, supply, production Regional studies Curriculum, dissemination important progress in defining new metrics for sustainable levels of removal in these systems.

Results

Conclusion