Overview of NIFA Programs

In Sustainable Bioenergy
Presentation at: 6th University-Federal Dialogue on Energy Research and
Education

Franklin E. Boteler
May 23, 2011
 2008 Farm Bill Created New
Agency—

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Purpose: Advance science.

Science: Research, Education, Extension

(both independently and integrated)
 Drivers

•National Research Council:

-A New Biology for the 21st Century, 2009
-Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the
21st Century, 2010

●Pasteur's Quadrant: Basic Science and

Technological Innovation--Stokes
Framework To Advance Science:

1. Focus on a societal challenge (New Biology).

2. Scale work to make a difference through supporting

transdisciplinary work—often across disciplines and institutions.

3. Focus + Scale = Impact

Result of focus and scale (combination of fundamental and applied
science) results in impact on the societal challenge.
 Focusing NIFA Science in 2010
Focuses the outcomes from NIFA-sponsored
activities around societal challenge areas:
1. Climate change
2. Bioenergy
3. Food safety
4. Nutrition and childhood obesity
5. Global food security
Sustainable Bioenergy Program
Goals

This National Institute of Food and Agriculture Challenge Area focuses on the priority of
securing America's energy future. A key long-term outcome for this program is to
implement dedicated regional energy crop systems that materially deliver liquid
transportation biofuels to help meet the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of
2007 goal of 36 billion gallons/year of biofuels by 2022 and reduce the National
dependence on foreign oil. The development of regional sustainable bioenergy systems
will contribute significantly to reducing dependence on foreign oil, have net positive social,
environmental and rural economic impacts, and be compatible with existing agricultural
systems. Additional program activities will seek to identify the socioeconomic impacts of
biofuels in rural communities and address logistics of handling feedstocks for biofuels.
Sustainable Bioenergy Programs
GENERAL INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS: HTTP://WWW.NIFA.USDA.

1. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Bioenergy: Supports the development of
regional systems for the sustainable production of bioenergy and biobased products that contribute significantly
to reducing dependence on foreign oil, have net positive social, environmental, and rural economic impacts, and
are compatible with existing agricultural systems. Contact: wgoldner@nifa.usda.gov

2. Feedstock Genomics. NIFA and the Department of Energy's Office of Science, Office of Biological and
Environmental Research (OBER) administer an interagency program to support genomics-based research that
will lead to the improved use of biomass and plant feed stocks for the production of fuels such as ethanol or
renewable chemical feedstocks. Contact: ekaleikau@nifa.usda.gov

3. Biomass Research and Development Initiative: A joint effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture
and the U.S. Department of Energy. Supports work in (A) Feedstocks development, (B)Biofuels and biobased
products development, and (C) Biofuels and biobased products development analysis. Contact:
cbailey@nifa.usda.gov
Overview of NIFA Programs
In Sustainable Bioenergy

Questions?

Frank
Franklin E. Boteler, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., SW Mail Stop 2210
Washington, DC 20250-2215
Phone: (202) 720-0740
FAX: (202) 720-7803
fboteler@nifa.usda.gov