Released: April 20, 2007

Kansas Among States to Lead Advanced Bioenergy, Biofuels Research and Development

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas is among 12 north central states with the potential to produce up to two-thirds of the nation’s perennial bioenergy crops and crop residues, which brings the region into the national spotlight as the U.S. Congress considers federal farm policy that will help shift energy reliance from the Middle East to the Midwest.

To help guide this transition and ensure coordinated policy and research, directors from 12 state departments of agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service and university agriculture experiment stations have formed the North Central Bioeconomy Consortium. The states are Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

“The north central region currently leads the nation in ethanol production, and we plan to also lead the transition to cellulosic biofuels from perennial bioenergy crops and other biomass sources,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky. “This shared goal will align our states to achieve the most possible from our abundant renewable resources while protecting our environment and boosting our rural economies.”

The North Central Bioeconomy Consortium recently received a $100,000 grant from the Energy Foundation of San Francisco to coordinate regional public policy development and research for a renewable energy future. A strategic partnership has been formed with the Great Plains Institute of Minneapolis to help coordinate, facilitate and implement the 12-state consortium agenda.

“We will use collaborative research through our Midwest universities to make sure that our valuable working lands of agriculture and forestry are used in a sustainable manner for future generations,” said Forrest Chumley, associate director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Kansas State University and vice president of the consortium.

The consortium met for the first time in February to reach a memorandum of understanding for the three participating organizations.

“The long history of university extension offices working with local communities, producers and business leaders to make sure state-of-the-art research goes to work in our farms, forests and local businesses helps guarantee that bioeconomy growth will benefit all,” said Daryl Buchholz, associate director of Extension and Applied Research at Kansas State University.

The North Central Bioeconomy Consortium recently submitted summary work to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) documenting the region’s achievements and potential in leading the transition to greater use of bioenergy, biofuels and bioproducts.

“These are exciting and changing times for the north central region and the United States as we move toward greater renewable energy and fuels,” said Sara Bergan, executive director of the Great Plains Institute. “This consortium provides our region the opportunity to develop the next generation of biofuel feedstocks and energy technologies while providing the research and policy tools necessary to ensure long-term sustainability and economic vitality.”

The North Central Bioeconomy Consortium also recently agreed to collaborate with the Midwestern Governors Association on policy review and development for a proposed energy summit later this year.

More information about the consortium is available at www.ncbioconsortium.org. A list of members of the 12-state consortium including the Midwest Association of the State Departments of Agriculture (MASDA), the North Central Experiment Stations and North Central Cooperative Extension is available at Staff Members. Also available are the NCBEC Fact Sheet at Fact Sheet and a NCBEC report at Report.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Mary Lou Peter-Blecha
mlpeter@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News