North Carolina Bioenergy Research Initiative awards $1 million in grants

Money will help support 13 research project in the state

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

If 2014 wasn’t a good year for North Carolina State University (NCSU), their share of the $1 million in grants donated by the state’s Bioenergy Research Initiative is reason to be optimistic for the future.

Of the 13 programs receiving funding, nine of them belong to the university.

Programs benefitting from the grants include:

$40,513 to NCSU’s Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources to be used towards genetics and cropping studies of loblolly pine.

71,043 for NCSU’s Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering to look at the technologies used in ensilage and how it can be used for bioenergy. The department will also receive another $146,276 to study how giant reeds response to nitrogen fertilization rates for Arundo donax.

The university isn’t the only beneficiary of the grants.

Tyton BioEnergy will receive $69,000 for use towards developing tobacco for biofuel production.

Appalachian State University’s Department of Technology and Environmental Design will get $83,150 to develop greenhouse-heating systems using biomass to benefit farmers with limited resources.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to explore bioenergy potential through these grants for North Carolina's agricultural and forestry industries,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

Applications for grants being awarded in 2015 are now being accepted.