International Agriculture and Food Workshop

University of Wisconsin Law SchoolApril 21, 2009

Dr. John M. Greenler

Cellulosic(Second Generation) Biofuels:

Sustainability andFood Security

The Biofuels Ideal

Biomass: currently 10% of global energy flow

World Biomass Energy Flows

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

IP

CC

4th A

sse

ssm

ent

Rep

ort

( 2

007

)

C. Cleveland and R. Kaufmann, Fundamental principles of energy, 2008, Encyclopedia of Earth

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, “Figure 14-1: U.S. Energy Consumption by Sector, 1994–2004” (2005);http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2005/html/chapter_02/figure_14_01.html

Creating Cellulosic Biofuels

What is Cellulose?

Tough to Breakdown:

• Cellulose is the most abundant biological material on Earth

How Cellulosic Ethanol is Made

Plant Breeding for

Greater Biofuels Potential

Bioprospecting - Thermophiles at Yellowstone

Long-Term Strategy for Improved Fuel/Ethanol Yields

1) Aerobic growth: optimize production of extracellularenzymes (lignocellulases)

2) Anaerobic growth: optimize production of enzymes, transporters, & pathways to funnel carbon to fuel production (ethanol, others)

Improved Biomass Conversion

Developing Improved Enzymes for Biomass Processing

“Breaking the Biological Barriers to Cellulosic Ethanol: A Joint Research Agenda”, DOE

Goal: Predict Behavior of Bioenergy Production Systems

High Input, Low Diversity

(annuals)

Low Input, High Diversity(perennials)

Continuous Corn

Corn-Soybean-Canola

Monoculture switchgrass

Switchgrass - Legumes

Early successionalNative prairie

Poplars

Sustainable Bioenergy Practices

Sustainability: Economic, Environmental and Social

Are There Win-Win Scenarios?

Ecosystem services:Food, pharmaceuticals, energy, climate regulation, pollination, nutrient cycling, recreation…

Where Should Biofuels Crops Be Grown? - Global Perspectives

DOE Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs)

GLBRC is one of three Bioenergy Research Centers funded by the Department of Energy to conduct transformational biofuels research