PEORIA, Ill. — The USDA Agricultural Research Service’s National Center for Agricultural Utilization (NCAUR) recently was awarded a federal research grant of $7 million to optimize rapeseed-canola, mustard and camelina oilseed crops for use as diesel and jet fuel. In addition to NCAUR – where scientists led by chief researcher Terry Isbell, Ph.D. have previously optimized pennycress for diesel fuel – other cost-share projects were announced as part of a $41 million investment in 13 projects between the U.S. Department of Energy and USDA, under the Energy Act of 2008 (FCAE).

They include collaborations with the Quad City Corn Cooperative of Galva, Iowa ($4.25 million to retrofit an existing corn ethanol plant to add value to its byproducts), the University of Wisconsin ($7 million for use of dairy manure for fiber for ethanol and fertilizer) and the University of Hawaii ($6 million for optimization of napier grass, energycane, sugarcane and sweet sorghum for biochemical conversion to jet fuel and diesel).

Also receiving funding was Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. of Findlay, Ohio, awarded $6.85 million for the optimization of guayule, a hardwood perennial shrub that produces natural rubber for use in tires. The remaining plant residue will be evaluated for use in biopower and for conversion to jet fuel precursors. “If we want to develop affordable alternatives for oil and gasoline that will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we need investments like these projects to spur innovation in bioenergy. By producing energy more efficiently and sustainably, we can create rural jobs, boost rural economies and help U.S. farmers, ranchers and foresters prosper,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above strategy to deploy every available source of American energy, we continue to strive for more efficient, cost-competitive technologies to produce U.S. energy,” added Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

“The investments (will help) to accelerate innovation across America’s growing biofuels industry, which will help to reduce our dependence on imported oil and support job creation across rural America.”

The Agriculture and Energy departments are working together through the joint Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) to develop economically and environmentally sustainable sources of renewable biomass, and increase the availability of renewable fuels and biobased products while supporting rural economies. Other aspects of the BRDI include feedstocks development relevant to the production of raw materials for biobased products and biofuel development analysis, including strategic guidance, energy and environmental impact evaluations and the assessment of federal land resources for potential resources toward the same.