DuPont Makes $1M Gift To Iowa State For Cellulosic Ethanol Research

Des Moines, IA,--DuPont announced on Sept. 21 a pledge of $1 million to the Iowa State University (ISU) New Century Farm, the first research effort in the United States to focus on producing cellulosic ethanol on the farm.

The research efforts also will focus on enhancing the production, processing and utilization of feedstocks for biofuels and biomaterials.

"The need for renewable sources of energy requires a dynamic new way of thinking.

"The New Century Farm will research the practical things farmers can do in the future to grow, harvest and store biomass in a sustainable manner," said Dean Oestreich, DuPont vice president and general manager and president of Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business.

"We're proud to partner with Iowa State to create a demonstration farm that will be the first of its kind to integrate both the growing and processing of biomass into biofuels."

The New Century Farm will include a facility for research in biomass crop breeding, crop rotation needs and ways to efficiently store and process biomass material.

It also will feature a teaching laboratory for training future scientists and farmers, and an extension facility to demonstrate the economic, social and environmental viability of bioenergy.

The funding from DuPont, through its Pioneer Hi-Bred business, will be allocated from 2008 to 2012.

"Supporting the bioeconomy is one of our highest priorities at Iowa State University, and the New Century Farm initiative is key to these efforts," ISU President Gregory Geoffroy said.

Biofuels Journal, Sept. 21, 2007