1. Emerging Research Areas and Opportunities for Collaborations
Dorota Z. Haman
Professor and Chair
University of Florida
September 20, 2012

2. Increasing importance of biological and agricultural sciences
“I think the biggest innovations of the 21st century will be at the intersection of biology and technology. A new era is beginning.” -- Steve Jobs UN predicts that population will reach 10.1 billion by the end of 2100 and 9 billion by By 2050, we're going to need 30 percent more food and 40 percent more water than is currently available.

3. Food for the 21 century Biotech and GM?
Increased farm land and fisheries?
Waste control – postharvest, transportation, storage, packaging % of food never makes it into a human stomach (farm wastage and storage)
Rising energy prices influence food security
Rethinking agriculture as a complete system
Future volatility in the food system driven by climate change amplified by political and economic factors.

4. Agriculture as a complete system
Better use of the plant nutrients and animal nutrients.
Crop selection - currently grown major crops are very water-inefficient
Water management in food production and environment
Water-efficient agriculture
Desalinization
Water recycling
Efficiency of irrigation
Small farms /large farms

5. Emerging global areas of research
Sustainability
Sustainable Sources of Energy
Bioenergy/bioproducts
Sustainable production
Human factors/policy
Environmental/climate/hydrologic modeling
Water and land management
Climate adaptation
Food security and safety
Automation/precision agriculture/robotics
Socio-ecological complexity

6. Bioenergy Waste to energy Anaerobic digestion Pyrolysis
Cellulosic ethanol
Biodiesel (waste or algae)
Biomass
Economics of bioenergy
Environmental impact 



7. Byproducts from biofuel waste
Waste Biomass
Soybean
Feedstocks
Agricultural Residues
Biofuel
Biodiesel
Conversion
Waste Collection
Lignin
Waste glycerol and fatty acid
Sustainability
Composting
Biodegradability
Close Life cycle
Added Value
Tailored Properties
Advantages
Bio-based By-products
Packaging
Adhesive
Latex

8. Decentralized bioenergy production
Direct withdrawal of methane from biofilm
How does it work?
Output=Methane
Input = Human waste

9. Engineered Carbon/Biochar Technology
Synthesize and characterizations of innovative engineered carbon/biochar: nano-, bio-, and pyrolysis technologies.
Environmental applications of engineered biochar: environment and resource sustainability.

10. Decentralized water production
What about toxins in graywater (such as silver nanoparticles)?
Nanoparticles in your socks?
Biological reactor for removal of surfactants
Household graywater recovery
Reusable
(non-potable) water
Ongoing study using biosensors to probe biofilm physiology