This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.
July 22, 2009
DOE, Agriculture Department to Award $6.3 million for Biofuels Research
DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on July 22 their joint selection of awards of up to $6.3 million over three years toward fundamental genomics research, which may lead to the improved use of plant feedstocks for biofuel production. DOE will provide $4 million for four projects, while USDA will award $2.3 million to three projects. The projects will focus on developing enhanced versions of poplar trees, alfalfa, and grasses, including Miscanthus, switchgrass, Brachypodium distachyon (purple false brome), and sweet sorghum. Awardees are located in five states: California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Nebraska. The grants will be awarded under a joint DOE-USDA program begun in 2006 that is committed to fundamental research in biomass genomics, providing the scientific foundation to facilitate use of lignocellulosic materials for bioenergy and biofuels. See the DOE press release and the list of awards on the Web site for the DOE-USDA biomass genomics research program.
