The Biomass Research and Development (BR&D) Board coordinates research and development activities concerning bio-based fuels, products, and power across federal agencies, and aims to maximize the benefits of federal programs and bring coherence to federal strategic planning. The BR&D Board meets quarterly and is currently comprised of members from the:
- U.S. Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, Defense, and the Environmental Protection Agency
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Learn more about BR&D Board members.
The Bioeconomy Initiative
The BR&D Board oversees the interagency Bioeconomy Initiative, a coordinated federal effort to expand the sustainable use of the nation’s abundant biomass resources for biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. The vision of the Bioeconomy Initiative is a vibrant U.S. bioeconomy that enhances economic growth, energy security, and environmental quality by maximizing sustainable use of the nation’s domestic biomass resources for affordable biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower.
In early 2016, the BR&D Board released the Federal Activities Report on the Bioeconomy (FARB), which emphasized the potential for a stronger U.S. bioeconomy and summarized the wide-ranging, federally funded activities already underway to bolster the production and use of biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower.
Outcomes of the Bioeconomy Listening Sessions
In 2016, the BR&D Board engaged with more than 400 stakeholders through four in-person bioeconomy listening sessions, which were held in conjunction with major bioenergy industry events, and one public webinar. Outcomes from those listening sessions include:
- The Billion Ton Bioeconomy Initiative: Challenges & Opportunities (C&O) report summarizes key challenges and opportunities that federal and external stakeholders identified.
- The Bioeconomy Initiative: Implementation Framework builds upon the C&O report, serving as a guiding document for the BR&D Board member agencies to increase government accountability and efficiency, maximize interagency coordination on bioeconomy research and other activities, and accelerate innovative and sustainable technologies that harness the nation’s biomass resources.
Interagency Working Groups
Several working groups support the BR&D Board by developing reports, plans, and other products aimed to better coordinate federal interagency efforts to address specific barriers to achieving the vision of the Bioeconomy Initiative. Learn more about the working groups.