the sustainability challenge and the role of ag-biosciences

Northeast Bioenergy & Bioproducts (NBB) Educational Tools and Training

This project is supported by AFRI Competitive Grant no. 2011-67009-30055 from the USDA, NIFA.

The Sustainability Challenge

and the Role of AgBiosciences

Dennis Hall

Northeast Bioenergy & Bioproducts 2011 OBIC Training Program



“There is no other arena of economic activity, or field of science and innovation, that so directly addresses human survival and quality of life, global economic development, and prospects for an environmentally sustainable future as agriculture and agbioscience. “

POWER & PROMISE: Agbioscience in the North Central

United States

Entering the “BioCentury”



Towards Sustainability -  The Energy Challenge

-  Sources, consumption, issues -  The Future of Energy

-  Sustainability -  Possible Solutions: Renewables -  Why Bio?

-  Systems Approach -  Definition and Examples

-  Meet the Bioeconomy



Energy Basics •  Energy: The capacity to do work •  Work: Application of force over a

distance •  Power: The rate at which work is done

•  Energy is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs)

•  1 gallon of gasoline contains about 100,000 BTUs of Energy



NUCLEAR

COAL

NATURAL GAS

WIND

SOLAR

BIOMASS

OIL

Hydro

GEOTHERMAL

Energy Sources



US Energy Consumption, 2002

Oil 43%

Coal 22%

Gas 20%

Nuclear 8%

Renewable 6%

Nearly 60% of oil is imported

Commercial Energy Consumption



US Primary Energy Consumption by Source and Sector, 2009



-  Low efficiency

-  Declining supply of fossil fuels

Energy Issues

-  Increasing energy demand

-  High dependence on fossil fuels

-  Environmental impacts of fossil fuel consumption



Energy Issues

•  Increasing energy demand

Annual ! in energy consumption worldwide 1% from 1972 – 2010

Developed countries w/ 20% world population Consume 80% of commercial energy

India Energy consumption has doubled since 1992

China Was self-sufficient, now 2nd largest fuel importer



Oil 43%

Coal 22%

Gas 20%

Nuclear 8%

Renewable 6%

> 80% Energy supply from fossil fuels

•  High dependence on fossil fuels

Energy Issues



•  Environmental impacts of fossil fuel consumption

!  Climate change by Carbon Dioxide (CO2) release

!  Air pollution: Sulfur Oxides (SOx), Nitrous Oxides (NOx), Particulate Matter, metals, radiation

!  Wildlife habitat destruction (ex: oil spills)

Energy Issues



•  Low energy efficiency throughout entire process

! !"#$%&'()*!! !+)*,-%./)*!! !0%&*.1/../)*!! !2/.$%/34()*!! !"*5!4.-!

!"

Energy Issues



•  Depletion of fossil fuels Coal: ~ 10 trillion metric tons Proven reserves will last 200 yrs at present

consumption rate (pcr)

Oil: ~ 4 trillion barrels (half recoverable) Proven reserves will last 40 yrs at pcr

(28.5 billion barrels/yr)

Natural gas: ~ 10,000 trillion ft3 Proven reserves (6200 trillion ft3) will last 60

yrs at pcr

Energy Issues



Energy: An Overview -  Energy Basics


-  Sustainability -  Possible Solutions: Renewables -  Why Bioenergy



The Future of Energy •  Energy issues are not going away

Demand + Supply = Cost



A Non Sustainable Situation!

Increasing Population & Energy Demand

Declining supply of fossil fuels & high dependence

Environmental impacts of fossil fuel consumption



Sustainability

•  Widely used term •  Little agreement on what it means •  “SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA”

•  Renewable •  A more “environmentally friendly” option •  Options that decrease dependence on

fossil fuels



Sustainability

SOCIAL VALUES

ECONOMIC VALUES

ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES



Possible Solutions

Large impact, quickly through energy conservation and increased efficiencies BUT "".. •  Can not just conserve our way to

sustainability SO "". •  Developing renewable energy sources

& energy diversification are important strategy options



Renewable Sources

-  Solar -  Wind -  Geothermal -  Hydro -  Fuel Cells -  Biomass

WIND

SOLAR

BIOMASS

Hydro

GEOTHERMAL

FUEL CELL



Contribution of Renewable Energy Sources



Energy Generation & Consumption Data

Energy Information Administration (EIA)

www.eia.gov "

#"$%&%'"()'*+,"-&%&"$,.%'/"0$(-$1"2345667778'9&8+:;6.%&%'6.'<."



1%1%2%

48%

18%

22%

7%

1%

United States

Electric Power Sector Consumption (Trillion Btu)

52%

22%

19%

7%

0%1960 2009

Price: ~ 9.8c/kWh



New York State


2%

2%2%

2%

34%

28%

20%

10%

2%

56%10%

21%

11%

1960 2009

Price: ~ 15.5c/kWh



1%

99%

Petroleum Coal

1960

District of Columbia


2009 100%

Price: ~ 12.7c/kWh



Ohio




Challenges of Some Renewables

•  Ever tried to drive a car powered by a wind turbine?

•  Would you be willing to only heat your home when the sun shines?

•  How about using only paddlewheels to run your assembly line?



Why Bioenergy?"Major Premise:

Agriculture will increasingly provide the raw materials and energy needed to drive our transition to a sustainable world



Why Bioenergy?"-  Renewable

-  Biomass is the only renewable that directly reduces our dependency on liquid fuels!

-  Can be created from waste products

-  Can be produced on marginal lands that are often unsuitable for food production

-  Can help to decrease environmental impacts when used in place of fossil fuels

-  May help to increase energy efficiency

-  Will help the US become more energy independent

-  Will help create jobs



•  BIOMASS: Plant or Animal material available on a renewable basis

•  BIOBASED: Starting materials are biologically-based as opposed to fossil-fuel based

•  BIOPOWER: Electricity, Combined heat & power

•  BIOFUELS: Liquid -Transportation & heating fuels

•  BIOPRODUCTS: Industrial chemicals, polymers

BIO-terminology



SAM'S VOICE: I have a big deal coming up that's going to make us all rich. George, you remember that night in Martini's bar when you told me you read someplace about making plastics out of soybeans?

GEORGE: Huh? Yeah-yeah-yeah . . . soybeans. Yeah.

SAM'S VOICE: Well, Dad's snapped up the idea. He's going to build a factory outside of Rochester. How do you like that?

Bioenergy: Not such a new idea"It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - Final Script



Diesel engine invented: February of 1897

Bioenergy: Not such a new idea

-  Rudolf Diesel’s engine was designed to run on

vegetable oil!

-  Diesel also designed a solar-powered air engine



•  Energy issues are not going away – supply, demand, cost

•  We need research, education, and infrastructure to transfer the technology to move to larger scales

•  Today’s students will help discover and develop the solutions for tomorrow’s

energy needs •  Bioenergy, biofuels, and bio-based products

are going to be an important component of the solutions!

Why Bioenergy?"



How do we address our energy needs for the future?

-  Our approach needs to be:

-  Multifaceted

-  System oriented

-  Collective

The Future of Energy






-  Systems Approach -  Definition -  Examples



The Systems Approach

What is a System?

- A system is “something” built from many other components, which interact for a common purpose

- To define a system, we must include its context, behavior or purpose and structure



The Systems Approach ! The systems approach is a methodological process that develops solutions by considering all of the Inter-related parts of a system and their impact on the system as a whole

OR

! OPTIMIZING each component individually, then OPTIMIZING system as a whole, which may require altering the individual components



Examples of Designed Systems !  The commercial air transportation system !  A Boeing 787 aircraft !  A computer system network

!  Energy “system”, regional or national scale

Many systems at one level can be

considered subsystems at another level

Key Ideas: • Interaction • Feedback

• Broad-based • Systematic



SYSTEMS INTEGRATION

Plant Crops Farm Animals Forests

Production of commodities and generation of waste

TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE

WASTE MATERIALS FROM PRODUCTION and PROCESSING STEPS

Food and FiberProcessing Plants

Dairy, Eggs, MeatProcessing Plants

Lumber and PaperProcessing Plants

Processing of commodities and generation of waste

COUNTY LANDFILL or ON-FARM DUMPING SITES

Commodities Markets



TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE









COUNTY LANDFILL or ON-FARM DUMPING SITES

Commodities Markets



Industrial Ecology: &".,.%'/"/:<'="%2&%">.'."%2'"7&.%'".%*'&/":?":)'"4*:@'.."&."&"?''<.%:@A"?:*"%2'")'B%"4*:@'.."&=="&=:)+"%2'";&=>'C&<<'<"@2&9)



A BIOBASED INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY






Commodities MarketsBIOREFINERY

Extraction of valuableoils, sugars, starches,pharmaceutical proteins

Value-added Markets

Production of biobasedFuels and biobased energy

Production of biobasedchemicals

Energy Markets

NEWDEDICATED

CROPS

Biorefinery Wastes



A BIOBASED INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY









Commodities MarketsBIOREFINERY

Extraction of valuableoils, sugars, starches,pharmaceutical proteins

Value-added Markets

Production of biobasedFuels and biobased energy

Production of biobasedchemicals

Energy Markets

NEWDEDICATED

CROPS

Biorefinery Wastes

SYSTEMS INTEGRATION



The Systems Approach Innovation is about

INTEGRATION & OPTIMIZATION •  Feedstock development •  Feedstock production •  Feedstock Logistics •  Conversion processes •  Markets and distribution •  End use technologies •  Public policy, human values



SYSTEMS THINKING •  A systems approach assesses the energy

yield, carbon neutrality, and the full impact of biofuel production on downstream and downwind ecosystems.

•  It takes into account all of the flows, controls, and storage of materials and energy. A positive energy yield means that more energy is produced than is consumed by its extraction and transport.

•  Carbon neutrality means that any fossil fuel carbon used in the production of biofuels is offset by carbon sequestration elsewhere in the system



Carbon Flow & Carbon Neutrality






-  Systems Approach -  Definition -  Examples

-  Meet the Bioeconomy



•  Enhancing the sustainability, competitiveness, and profitability of U.S. food and agricultural systems

•  Adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change on food, feed, fiber, and fuel systems in the United States

•  Supporting the energy security and the development of the bioeconomy from renewable natural resources

•  Playing a global leadership role to ensure a safe, secure, and abundant food supply for the United States and the world

•  Improving human health, nutrition, and wellness of the U.S. population

•  Heightening environmental stewardship through the development of sustainable management practices

•  Strengthening individual, family, and community development and resilience.

A Science Roadmap for Food and Agriculture November, 2010

7 Grand Challenges



!!

"#$%!

!"#$%&'()*+,'-./01.'231..&4#&5'6"73'8#%"9$.7$%1.'14:'8#0"/59"&49&')/.$7"/45!

!;;<')(2=>?@A

&'!()!*+,+-.//0!-+12*,(3+4!'5.'!'5+!*-26'5!27!*/28./!929:/.'(2,;!(,!12<8(,.'(2,!6('5!-()(,*!(,12<+)!.,4!.))21(.'+4!7224!4+<.,4);!<+.,!'5.'!0B'+CDC'#./01.'E//:'5$FF.B'G1B'4&&:'7/'0&':/$0.&:= >5+!?2:,1(/!72-!@*-(1:/':-./!#1(+,1+!.,4!>+15,2/2*0!A?@#>B!,2'+)C

./-+.40!(,!9-24:1'(2,=!!!&,!DEED;!F=GD!.1-+)!27!7.-</.,4!6.)!.H.(/.8/+!'2!7++4!+.15!9+-)2,=!!I0!JFKF;!2,/0!F=%L!.1-+)!27!7.-</.,4!6(//!8+!.H.(/.8/+!72-!+.15!9+-)2,=!!&'!<+.,)!'5.'!'5+!9-24:1'(H('0!27!

H=I8J'H(8K@H

>5+!M2-/4!N+./'5!O-*.,(3.'(2,!)'.'+)!'5.'!<./,:'-('(2,!()!'5+!*-.H+)'!)(,*/+!'5-+.'!'2!'5+!

!"##$%&'(%2,!'5+!P(*5'!'2!Q224!-+92-')!'5.'!<2-'./('0!4:+!'2!<./,:'-('(2,!.112:,'+4!72-!KGR!27!*/28./!4+.'5)!(,!JFFS! .!'2'./!27!%S!<(//(2,!9+29/+!40(,*!27!5:,*+-!2-!4()+.)+)!.''-(8:'.8/+!'2!4+7(1(+,1(+)!(,!'5+(-!,:'-('(2,=!>5+!M2-/4!N+./'5!O-*.,(3.'(2,!)'.'+)!'5.'!<./,:'-('(2,!()!'5+!/+.4(,*!12,'-(8:'2-!'2!'5+!4+.'5!27!15(/4-+,;!9-+)+,'!(,!5./7!27!.//!1.)+)=

@*8(2)1(+,1+!.4H.,1+<+,')!(,!.4H.,1+4!7224;!,:'-('(2,!.,4!5+./'5!9-24:1')!.-+!1+,'-./!'2!+,5.,1(,*!*/28./!5+./'5=

(2;J;I?2'<(L(K;MI(J@

?-:)5(,*!92H+-'0!(,!<:15!27!'5+!62-/4!.,4!(,1-+.)(,*!*/28./!12<9+'('(2,!(,!'5+!4+H+/29+4!62-/4!9/.1+!.,!(<9+-.'(H+!2,!+12,2<(1!4+H+/29<+,'=!!

@*8(2)1(+,1+!()!.'!'5+!72-+7-2,'!27!.!,+6!6.H+!27!+12,2<(1!4+H+/29<+,'!2992-':,('(+)!8:(/'!.-2:,4!8(28.)+4!-+)2:-1+)=!!Q:-'5+-<2-+;!'5+!*-26'5!27!8(28.)+4!7++4)'21T);!12:9/+4!6('5!'5+(-!12,H+-)(2,!'2!H./:+!.44+4!7224;!5+./'5;!7:+/!.,4!(,4:)'-(./!9-24:1');!9-2H(4+)!+12,2<(1!2992-':,('(+)!72-!82'5!-:-./!.,4!:-8.,!12<<:,('(+)!.,4!72-!82'5!'5+!4+H+/29+4!.,4!4+H+/29(,*!62-/4=

(JL?>;JI(J@8K')=)@8?J8N?K?@A

O:-!+,H(-2,<+,'!()!8+(,*!4+*-.4+4!.'!.,!(,1-+.)(,*!9.1+!80!5:<.,!.1'(H('0=!!U+72-+)'.'(2,;!)2(/!+-2)(2,;!'2V(1!6.)'+;!9+-)()'+,'!9/.)'(1)!92//:'(2,;!*-++,52:)+!*.)!+<())(2,)! +.15!27!'5+)+!9-+)+,'!.!'5-+.'!'2!'5+!+,H(-2,<+,'!:92,!65(15!6+!.,4!+H+-0!2-*.,()<!2,!'5()!9/.,+'!4+9+,4=

@*-(1:/':-+!.,4!.*8(2)1(+,1+)!.-+!!9-2H(4(,*!)2/:'(2,)!'2!+,H(-2,<+,'./!15.//+,*+)=!!I(27:+/)!.,4!8(2$8.)+4!15+<(1./)!.,4!<.'+-(./)!9-2H(4+!.!):)'.(,.8/+!./'+-,.'(H+!'2!,2,$):)'.(,.8/+!.,4!92//:'(,*!2(/!.,4!2'5+-!72))(/$-+)2:-1+!8.)+4!9-24:1')=!!&,,2H.'(2,)!(,!7+-'(/(3+-!:)+!+77(1(+,10;!9+)'!-+)()'.,1+!!.,4!6.'+-!:)+!+77(1(+,10!.-+!/+.4(,*!'2!-+4:1+4!.*-(1:/':-./!9-24:1'(2,!(,9:')=

W/28./!?5.//+,*+)!6('5!@*-(1:/':-./!.,4!@*8(2)1(+,1+!#2/:'(2,)

&<<:,+!)0)'+<!4+7(1(+,1(+)

O8+)('0

X('.<(,!4+7(1(+,10

U(.8+'+)

&,7+1'(2:)!4()+.)+)

W/28./!1/(<.'+!15.,*+Y2//:'(2,

M.)'+ #2(/!+-2)(2,

?5+<(1./!-:,277

#'.-H.'(2,

Q224!.11+))Q224!H.-(+'0!.,4!,:'-('(2,./!12,'+,'

#9+1(+)!+V'(,1'(2,)

Y2H+-'0 "12,2<(1!12<9+'('(2,

P+)2:-1+!9-(1+!H2/.'(/('0

P:-./!.,4!:-8.,!4+H+/29<+,'

Y-+!.,4!92)'$5.-H+)'!/2))+)

M.'+-!-+)2:-1+)"12,2<(1!):)'.(,.8(/('0

@*-(1:/':-./!9-24:1'(H('0

@11+))!'2!1/+.,!6.'+-

!

!



Many Thanks!

Corinne Rutzke, Cornell University C. Lindsay Anderson, Cornell University

Mike Jabot, SUNY Fredonia Mingxin Guo, Delaware State

Lauren Dowler & Ann Fisher, Pace University Training Program

Use of Presentation Materials and Slides



The Bioeconomy

Meet the Bioeconomy Video



Race to the Pumps!