NIFA Biobased Energy Programs
Peter Arbuckle
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Program Specialist- Biobased Energy and Products
Outline
• USDA Energy Strategy
– Growing America’s Fuel
• NIFA Implementation
• NIFA Programs
USDA BioEnergy Strategy
• Focused to meet President’s Biofuel Targets
– 36 B gallons by 2022
– 60 B gallons by 2030
• Emphasize investment in Commercializing
“drop-in” replacement biofuels
– Bioproducts and Biopower to add value
• Invest in alcohol fuels where appropriate and
viable
USDA BioEnergy Strategy
• Sustainable Regional Biofuel Production
Systems
– Feedstock Development and Production
• Focus on 5 sources of biomass
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Woody biomass
Perennial grasses
Energycane
Sorghum
Oil seed (includes Algae)
NIFA Implementation
• Life-Cycle Approach to Biofuel Production
– Sustainable Regional Production and Consumption
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Feedstock Development and Production
Logistics/Material Handling
Infrastructure
Processing- Products and co-products
End-use
Waste Management
NIFA Implementation
• Transdisciplinary REE
– Integrated research through out product life-cycle
– Consortia-based grants
• Academic, Industry, State, USDA
– Education and Extension is important
• Fellowships, student support, and outreach
– Workforce Development
NIFA Programs
• Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)
– $700 million authorized for new grants in 2010
– Approx. 25% to Sustainable Biobased Energy
• General grant types
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Coordinated Agricultural Projects
Planning Grants
Standard Research Grants
Standard Education Grants
– RFA to be released in Late February/March 2010
NIFA Programs
• AFRI (cont’d)
– Larger Grants- Longer in Duration
• “Outcome Driven”
• Larger grants to grow program
• 5-year awards
– Budget growth required for new programs
– >50% increase requested in President’s Budget for FY 11
Contact: Bill Goldner wgoldner@nifa.usda.gov
NIFA Programs
• Biomass Research and Development
Initiative (BRDI)
– Joint USDA/DOE Program
– $28 M in 2010 (USDA)
• Three Technical Areas
– Feedstock Development
– Biofuels and Biobased Products
– Biofuels Development Analysis
– Emphasis on Demonstration
Contact: Carmela Bailey cbailey@nifa.usda.gov
• BRDI Projects
NIFA Programs
– Feedstock Development
• Sustainable Feedstock Supply Systems (OK St.)
• Conditionally Activated Proenzymes (Agravida, inc)
– Biofuels and Biobased Products
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Food and Yard Waste into Biogas and Bioproducts (Yenkin-Majestic Paint Corp.)
Cellulosic Isobutanol Fermentation Biocatalyst (Gevo, Inc.)
Kinetic Models of Biomass Gassificaiton (GE Global Research)
Production of Polyitaconic Acid from Northeast Hardwood Biomass (Itaconix, LLC)
Improving Biorefinery Economics through Microchannel Hydroprocessing
(Velocys, Inc.)
– Biofuels Development Analysis
• Environmental Sustainability and Capacity of Forest-based Biofuel (University of
Minnesota)
• Analysis of the Global Impacts of Second Generation Biofuels (Purdue University)
NIFA Programs
• Small Business Innovation Research Program
– Research for the development of a profit-making
technology, product or service
– Two-phase program - feasibility and development
– $90,000 (Phase I); $400,000 (Phase II)
– Small businesses of 500 employees or less
– Government-wide
– 2.5% set-aside of USDA extramural funding for research
NIFA Programs
SBIR Bioenergy-Related Topic Areas
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Biofuels and Biobased Products
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Forests & Related Resources
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Plant Production & Protection – Biology
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Plant Production & Protection – Engineering
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Animal Manure Management
Contact: Bill Goldner wgoldner@nifa.usda.gov
NIFA Programs
Questions?