Renewable Chemicals & Biobased Materials

Commercial-scale advanced biofuel, renewable chemical, and biobased product biorefineries are in operation or under construction; pilot and demonstration projects continue to scale-up new technologies. 

Industrial biotechnology covers the application of biotechnology-based tools to traditional industrial processes (“bioprocessing”) and the manufacturing of bio-based products (such as fuels, chemicals and plastics) from renewable feedstocks.

The timing for building a biobased economy as an option to the current petroleum-based one, to provide fuels, chemicals, materials and energy sustainably for the long term future cannot be better.

On July 26, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced four new project areas for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program.

To carry out military and humanitarian missions around the world, U.S. forces require reliable fuel supplies and secure supply lines. At the micro level, the military is as much at the mercy of high oil and gasoline prices as the average consumer. In addition, when you calculate the fully burdened cost of fuels, for instance a gallon of jet fuel delivered to the front lines in Afghanistan, it can be upwards of $400 per gallon. And, on a macro level, oil often comes from regions of the world that are not U.S. military allies. The need for great energy independence is therefore a very important national security issue.