A vision and roadmap for the next generation of agricultural systems

Biomass Working Group

This group promotes a systems approach for the research, development, and adoption of perennial and some annual-based biomass enterprises. As a cornerstone of local and regional renewable energy systems, these enterprises have multiple functions and benefits in communities and the landscape. Their benefits range from economic development to ecosystem services (e.g., carbon sequestration, nitrogen cycling, water quality improvement, habitat protection and restoration, biodiversity). A key component of this work is the advancement of systemic frameworks and approaches to helping farmers shift from annual to perennial biomass production. Another important component of this work is an assessment of what is most sustainable at each scale of activity (local, regional, watershed, and beyond), and how and when scaling up of successful efforts and/or centralization creates the greatest stream of public and private benefits.

In both Minnesota and Illinois, the biomass working group has organized “learning groups” that have brought stakeholders from environmental, economic development, agricultural, renewable energy, industrial, and community sectors together for sustained co-learning. Each group has produced a “road map” for coordinated development of new multifunctional bio-energy enterprises, and has formed implementation teams to obtain scale-up funding for watershed-scale proof-of-concept research and development.

In addition, working group members are highly involved in state-level efforts to develop policy and regulation for emerging bio-energy systems. By spanning the too often separate realms of policy, regulation, economic development and basic-to-applied research, the biomass working group is ensuring that efforts in each are targeted and linked to provide the leverage needed to overcome barriers to new multifunctional systems.

For more information about this working group and/or to become a partner, please contact Nick Jordan, University of Minnesota, email jorda020@umn.edu or phone 612-625-3754.

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