Sun Grant Initiative for Biomass Production and Utilization Established

 The Sun Grant Initiative (SGI) is a national program in the South Central Region of the United States, established to develop new solutions for the energy needs of the country, and to “revitalize rural communities” through research, education and extension programs. With headquarters in Oklahoma State University, the SGI has made available, about US$ 2.5 million in research grants for the development /enhancement of biomass energy. Seven “integrated projects” ($125,000/year for up to 3 years, characterized by multi-institutional participation) and ten “seed-grant projects” ($35,000/year for up to 2 years, for novel exploratory research) were awarded for the first round of funding. The broad areas of research include the development of novel and cost-effective techniques for bioenergy crop breeding, biofuel processing (production and purification) and economics. Some of the research topics in the integrated projects category include, the development of bioenergy-tailored sorghum/sweet sorghum crops and syngas/gasification technologies. The seed grant projects include advanced biodiesel feedstock development, sorghum stover for ethanol production, and bioconversion of biomass by the microorganism, Vibrio furnii.