Feedstock improvement projects receive $12.6 million

The US Department of Energy (DOE) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has selected ten projects to receive funding aimed at furthering genetic breeding programmes.

The programmes will improve plant feedstocks for the production of biofuels and bio-based products.

'Biofuels and bio-based products offer the potential of home-grown US resources that can reduce our dependence on imported oil and also cut carbon emissions,' says secretary of energy Ernest Moniz. 'This advanced research is helping us to lay the groundwork for biomass as an important part of the low-carbon future.'

The $12.6 million (€9 million) in research grants are awarded under a joint DOE-USDA programme that began in 2006.

Dedicated feedstock crops usually need less intensive production methods and can therefore be cultivated on poorer quality land than food crops. This is an important part of the sustainable biofuels production, as it avoids competition with crops grown for food.

The projects are located in California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Texas, and Virginia. The DOE's office of science will give $10.6 million to eight projects and USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture will award $2 million to fund two projects. This initial funding will help research projects for up to three years.