Biotech Updates

USDA, DOE Invest $18.4 for Biomass R & D

March 7, 2008

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy will fund 21 biomass research and development, and demonstration projects over a three year period. This was announced by Secretaries Ed Schafer and Samuel Bodman during the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008. The projects aim to address critical barriers to making production of biomass more efficient and cost-effective.

"These grants help fund the innovative research needed to develop technologies and systems that lead to the production of bio-based products and biofuels," Schafer said. "Funding new technologies will help make biofuels competitive with fossil fuels in the commercial market, putting America on the path of reducing its dependence on foreign oil."

Grantees include the University of Florida for genetic engineering of sugarcane to increase fermentable sugar yield from hemicellulosic biomass; and Ceres, Inc. which will identify and characterize plant genes involved in biosynthesis and deposition of cellulose and hemicellulose in plant cell walls. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome