USDA Grants Support Sustainable Bioenergy Production

"USDA and President Obama are committed to producing clean energy right here at home, to not only break our dependence on foreign oil, but also boost rural economies," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "These projects will give us the scientific information needed to support biofuel production and create co-products that will enhance the overall value of a biobased economy. This will propel us to out-educate, out-innovate and out-build in the field of renewable energy and help America win the future."

These words and the announcement on the USDA grants were made by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Director Roger Beachy during the 16^th 1890 biennial Research Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia, on behalf of Secretary Vilsack. The research grant is hoped to spur production of bioenergy and bio-based products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs. The funded projects focus on three areas: crop protection for sustainable feedstock production systems, enhanced value co-product development, and carbon sequestration and sustainable bioenergy production.

A full list of awardees can be found online at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2011news/sus_bioenergy_awards.html. See the news release for more details at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_gAC9-wMJ8QY0MDpxBDA09nXw9DFxcXQ-cAA_2CbEdFAEUOjoE!/?contentidonly=true&contentid=2011%2F04%2F0161.xml.