CAAFI – Farm to Fly Atlanta, GA December 3, 2015 William Anderson, Co-coordinator SE Regional Biomass Research Center USDA Biomass Research Centers

Supply Chain Systems Approach DoD & DOE Conversion research Industry & DLA fuel purchase guarantees USDA risk & biomass programs USDA conservation programs USDA & DOE research & grant programs USDA & DOE commercial programs FAA & DoD Q/C EPA REN Certification Greater Potential Benefits if Efforts are Coordinated Feedstock Production Feedstock Logistics Biofuels Conversion Fuel Testing & Approval Large Scale Deployment Feedstock Development

Establishment of the USDA Biomass Research Centers Presidential Memo, Biofuels Interagency Working Group (IWG) – May 5, 2009 IWG Report Growing America’s Fuels Report – February 03, 2010 Secretary Vilsack announcement at the National Press Club – October 21, 2010

USDA Biomass Research Centers Overview Networks of existing Agriculture Research Service (ARS) and Forest Service (FS) research locations. Leverage current USDA nation-wide capacity to lead sustainable biomass production research. Coordinate ARS and FS intramural research occurring across different locations into a comprehensive program. Coordinate USDA intramural and extramural research efforts.

Leadership of the Biomass Research Centers Regional Coordinators and Leadership Teams 1. SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL CENTER ARS Leadership. Tifton, Georgia (Bill Anderson, coordinator). Forest Service Leadership. Huntsville, Alabama (Andy Scott, coordinator). 2. CENTRAL-EAST REGIONAL CENTER ARS leadership. Lincoln, Nebraska (Rob Mitchell, coordinator). 3. WESTERN REGIONAL CENTER ARS leadership. Maricopa, Arizona (coordinator). 4. NORTHWESTERN REGIONAL CENTER ARS leadership. Pullman, Washington (Dan Long, coordinator). FS Leadership. Corvallis, Oregon (Bob Deal, coordinator).

Research Objectives Supporting Sustainable Biomass Production Increase biomass production efficiency to increase grower profits and reduce biorefinery transaction costs. Optimally incorporate biomass and other dedicated feedstocks into existing agriculture and forestry-based systems. Address the uncertainties of expanded production up-front to avoid negative impacts on existing markets and ecosystem services. Develop and utilize new value-added coproducts to help enable commercially preferred biorefining technologies.

Themes of Research 1) Dedicated feedstock development through genetics and breeding 2) Feedstock production protocols 3) Logistics of planting, harvesting, and preprocessing 4) Feedstock conversion 5) Natural resource assessments that lead to life cycle analyses (LCA).

Southeast Regional Center : Herbaceous Feedstock Assessment for the Southeast Switchgrass Micanthus x gigantius Napiergrass Knoll, J.E., Anderson, W.F., Strickland, T.M., Hubbard, R.K., and Malik, R Biomass production and nutrient utilization of perennial grasses under no inputs in South Georgia. Bioenerg. Res. DOI /s x

National Institute of Food and Agriculture NIFA’s Role in the Development of Sustainable Regional Systems for the Production of Alternative Jet Fuel

Sustainable Bioenergy and Biobased Product Portfolio Vision Facilitate the development of sustainable regional production systems for biofuels, biopower, industrial chemicals, and biobased products through partnerships and collaboration, for increased rural economic vitality, ecosystems services, and national energy security. 10

Background: Coordinated Agricultural Projects Regionally-appropriate Biomass Feedstock Systems  Focus on five non-food feedstocks: Woody biomass; Energy cane; Perennial grasses; Energy sorghum; and Oilseed crops Translational and systems approach  Focus on feedstock development, production, and delivery  Must partner with feedstock users & well-align with appropriate conversion technologies and industry for bioproduct production 11

Coordinated Agricultural Projects (cont’d) Sustainable Performance Metrics throughout the whole supply chain:  Environmentally sustainable  Economically viable and competitive  Socially responsible 12

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14 Hileman and Stratton (Transport Policy, 2014) *Jim Heilman, FAA NARASUBINIFA CAPs

Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA) led by Washington State Univerisity Entering 5 th year of funding ($40 M total) Entire supply chain focus Integrated Research, Education, and Extension/Outreach Successfully able to convert forest residuals from Weyerhauaeser to fermentable sugars Gevo working on producing 1,000+ gallons of bio-aviation fuel for demonstration flight by Alaska Airlines Developed a suite of higher-value co-products to make the entire system economical 15

USDA NIFA Sustainable Bioenergy PD Meeting October 29-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA Isobutanol to Jet Fuel Demonstration Demonstration unit at South Hampton Resources, Silsbee, TX is fully functional © 2012 Gevo, Inc.

Sustainable Bioproduct Initiative (SUBI) led by Louisiana State University Entering 5 th year of funding ($17.5 M total) Entire supply chain focus Integrated Research, Education, and Extension/Outreach Successfully developed cold-tolerant energy cane Energy cane and sweet sorghum feedstocks for a full range of higher-value co-products to make the entire system economical Commercial partners Virent (aviation fuel)and Optinol (butanol) 17

Processing SUBI Pilot Plant at Audubon Sugar Research Center