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Explore the feasibility of alfalfa and other perennial crops like legumes and nonlegumes for renewable energy production. Research focuses on soybean feasibility, crop improvement, and societal benefits. Discover the potential to replace petroleum imports and electricity consumption with crop residues. Investigate the vitality of rural communities through regional energy generation and market opportunities. Learn the importance of legumes in high-value products, environmental friendliness, and genetic manipulation. Research priorities include germplasm improvement, profitable management, and overcoming biochemical limitations for environmental benefits. Address questions on processing, transport, profitability, and market saturation for alternative products.
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RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT AGRONOMY AND CROP IMPROVEMENT ▪ Alfalfa ▪ Other Perennials: Legumes and Nonlegumes ▪ Soybean
Feasibility Study Indicated that an Alfalfa Biomass Energy System Approached Profitability CO 2 Leaves N 2 Stems
FACULTY PARTICIPANTS H. Jung M. Russelle D. Samac J. Gronwald J. Lamb C. Vance D. Wyse N. Ehlke C. Sheaffer D. Somers J. Orf ADJUNCT USDA/ARS UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
AGRICULTURAL AND SOCIETAL BENEFITS Crop Residues (Conservatively) Could Replace: ▪ 12.5% of U.S. Petroleum Imports ▪ 5.0% of U.S. Electric Consumption (Gallager et al. 2003) Strengthen Vitality of Rural Communities: ▪ Regional Generation of Electricity ▪ Ethanol and Biodiesel Facilities ▪ Local Market for Product
WHY FOCUS ON LEGUMES? ▪ High Value Products and Co-Products ▪ Environment Friendly -- Symbiotic N2 Fixation -- Reduced Input Needs -- Protect Soil, Water, and Air -- Enhance Ecosystem Services ▪ Diversity of Management Schemes ▪ Amenable for Conservation Security Program of New Farm Bill ▪ Genetic Manipulation -- Traditional -- Biotechnology
SOYBEANS ▪ Biodiesel is Here ▪ Protein Yields Low in Minnesota Relative to Other States ▪ Improve Protein While Minimizing Loss of Oil
RESEARCH PRIORITIES ▪ Germplasm Improvement ▪ Profitable Management ▪ Alternative Products: New Uses ▪ Overcoming Biochemical Limitations ▪ Benefits to Environment
QUESTIONS ▪ Processing ▪ Transport ▪ Profitability ▪ Market Saturation for Alternative Products ▪ Political
Development of Adapted Biofuels-Type Alfalfa • Data collection for gain from selection study on alfalfa stem traits is complete. Analysis in progress. • Segregation study will be planted in 2003 with 2nd generation backcross progeny for disease resistance.
Alfalfa Grows Where Water Needs Protection Groundwater risk Surface water risk
Minnesota Agri-Power:A Project to Produce Electricity and Livestock Feed (and Improve the Environment) with Alfalfa • Separate alfalfa hay into leaf and stem fractions. • Produce electricity from the low-value stems. • Utilize the leaves as a feed supplement for livestock.
Biomass Conversion to Ethanol Electricity & Processing Heat Enzymatic Breakdown of Polysaccharides Residual Solids Sugars Grind Fermentation Pretreatment to Remove Inhibitors Ethanol Recovery Sugars