Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center: producing sustainable lignocellulosic biofuels and chemicals

Great Lakes Bioenergy is one of three Department of Energy funded Bioenergy Research Centers conducting genome-enabled, systems level research to provide the underpinnings for production of ethanol, advanced biofuels and chemicals from the lignocellulosic, or non-edible, fraction of plant biomass. To achieve its mission, GLBRC basic science activities are led by academic and national lab scientists (University of Wisconsin-Madison, Michigan State University, University of British Columbia, Texas A&M University, Illinois State University, University of New Hampshire, University of Maryland and Pacific Northwest National Lab) focused on providing knowledge toward the sustainable production of crops with desirable biofuel traits and energy efficient conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals. Therefore, the Center’s research portfolio is built on integrated, discovery research activities in Sustainability: to identify factors affecting the ecological and economic sustainability of biofuel production, Plants: to improve the traits and productivity of bioenergy crops, Deconstruction: to improve chemical and enzymatic methods for releasing monomers or short oligomers from lignocellulosic biomass, and Conversion: to improve microbial and chemical systems for converting materials derived from lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels and chemicals. Since its inception in 2007, Great Lakes Bioenergy has reported findings in over 800 papers, produced knowledge that led to filing for over 120 patents and ~3 dozen licenses, and formation of several start-up companies. In addition, GLBRC fosters collaboration in the bioenergy research community as evidenced by jointly reported data with over 150 institutions across 32 states and 24 countries over a recent 12-month period.