Sustainable Bioeconomy Interagency Working Group

The Biomass Research and Development (BR&D) Board's Sustainable Bioeconomy Interagency Working Group (SB–IWG) supports the BR&D Board’s commitment to advancing federal bioeconomy activities. The SB–IWG fosters collaboration and communication between agencies to accelerate analyses and research on the contributions of the bioeconomy in the future.

The SB–IWG exchanges and synthesizes information on costs and benefits to address questions from relevant stakeholders. The group then provides actionable information and frameworks that the BR&D Board and relevant agencies can use to inform decisions that optimize economic outcomes and advance energy security.

What Is a Viable Bioeconomy?

A sunset over a farm
Norwood Farms owners work with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement their crop rotation and residue management practices to reduce erosion leading to improved land use and crop production. The stover of remaining corn stalk stubs, leaves, and cobs that are expelled and left behind the corn harvester becomes a cover crop. Photo by Lance Cheung, USDA.

A viable bioeconomy meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. A viable bioeconomy will expand the use of biomass in a way that stimulates economic growth, creates energy independence and a secure energy future, and strengthens national security.

What Are the U.S. Government’s Objectives for the Bioeconomy?

Each agency is responsible for sustainability assessments and management pertinent to its mission. The information feeds into periodic evaluation and public dissemination of results. This creates an iterative process whereby the BR&D Board member agencies adjust their objectives  for advancing the bioeconomy based on engagement with relevant stakeholders and the public. The objectives for advancing the bioeconomy include the following:

  • Identify relevant metrics and indicators and facilitate monitoring and reporting on their results
  • Understand and assess impacts as the bioeconomy evolves
  • Support decision making at the agency, program, and stakeholder level that enables continuous progress towards a viable bioeconomy

What Progress Has Occurred?

The SB–IWG is supportive of the milestones reached due to federal agency collaborations. The SB–IWG will synthesize findings from the land use work and the papers below to assess this information’s criticality and value in reaching group goals. Below are examples of the progress that the SB–IWG has made:

 

 

References

  1. Xu, H, Sieverding, H, Kwon, H, et al. "A Global Meta‐Analysis of Soil Organic Carbon Response to Corn Stover Removal." GCB Bioenergy. 2019; 11: 1215– 1233. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12631.
  2. Hussain, M.Z., Bhardwaj, A.K., Basso, B., Robertson, G.P. and Hamilton, S.K. (2019), "Nitrate Leaching from Continuous Corn, Perennial Grasses, and Poplar in the U.S. Midwest." Journal of Environmental Quality, 48: 1849-1855. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2019.04.0156.