Tuesday, May 5, 2009 - 10:00 AM
8-04
Sourcing Stover: Results from the ISU Integrated Corn Stover Feedstock Supply Systems Project
Rob Anex1, Kenneth J. Moore1, Stuart Birrell1, Kendall R. Lamkey Lamkey1, M. Paul Scott1, K. Mark Bryden1, Tom L. Richard2, Kevin J. Shinners3, James Coors3, Richard E. Muck4, and Liz Marshall5. (1) Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, 3202 NSRIC Building, Ames, IA 50011-3020, (2) Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 103 Land and Water Research Building, University Park, PA 16802, (3) Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin, 460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, (4) U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-ARS, 1925 Linden Drive West, Madison, WI 53706, (5) World Resources Institute
Corn stover is widely recognized as the most promising high volume, low cost lignocellulosic feedstock on which to base second generation biofuel production. However, several significant challenges confront this vision. This talk will summarize the results of a four year effort aimed at: (1) developing innovative harvesting and storage technologies to efficiently and economically move corn stover from the field to the factory gate with physical and chemical properties optimal for the conversion processes; (2) identifing genetic varieties of corn with specific properties attractive for biobased industries to enable a breeding program to enhance those properties; and (3) evaluating and optimizing systems of production, harvest and storage for efficiency, and economic and environmental sustainability.