Bioeconomy

Building on a long history of research on handling and treating wood, Forest Products Laboratory scientists are working with partners to facilitate the use of sustainable, environmentally neutral technologies, including biofuels.

Biobased fuels have typically been developed from agricultural crops such as corn, rice and sugarcane. However, an alternative to producing ethanol from food crops is to use trees. Trees have several advantages over use of agricultural crops for biofuels. Trees are able to grow in marginal soil that will not support agriculture and do not require use of fertilizer, herbicides, or pesticides.

Increasing the use of biomass for alternative fuels has the secondary benefit of making harvesting small diameter trees and woody debris from overcrowded forests more profitable.  This vast source of biomass is available for production of wood products, chemicals, and energy.

How Does it Apply?

Converting wood resources into liquid fuels and chemical feedstock is becoming more cost competitive, thanks in part to research at the Forest Products Laboratory. In turn, the biorefining research at the Lab helps promote sustainable development, mitigate climate change, support local economies, and move the country closer to energy independence.