National experts confronted bioenergy development issues at a December 2008 Bioenergy Conference held at Truman State University
KIRKSVILLE, MO – Recent trends in energy prices and policy have made it clear that agriculture will play an important role in America’s energy future. However, concerns over the growing use of biofuels and biomass, their impact on food availability and price, and their broader environmental impact have generated debate about the sustainability of current bioenergy developments.
National experts confronted these issues at a Bioenergy Conference held December 5, 2008, at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. The conference provided professional development training targeted to high school and college agriculture faculty members, extension personnel, natural resource and conservation agency personnel, community leaders, and anyone interested in a sustainable energy future.
Speakers addressed a range of bioenergy topics. Dr. David Bransby (Auburn University), Dr. John Hay (University of Nebraska), and Dr. Jack Juvik (University of Illinois) covered production and utilization of grassy biomass sources. Woody biomass sources were covered by Dr. Gregg Johnson (University of Minnesota), Roger Korenberg (MO Dept. of Natural Resources), and Dr. Hank Stelzer (University of Missouri). Thomas Feighny, J.D. (Underwood Attorneys and Counselors at Law; Amarillo, Texas) discussed what landowners need to know when negotiating wind energy leases. Thomas Suffield (Cedars Capital, LLC; Houston, Texas) layed out options for financing bioenergy projects. Bioenergy entrepreneur Steve Flick (Flick Seed Company/Missouri Bioenergy) and bioenergy consultant Bill Belden (Prairie Lands Bio-Products, Inc.) shared lessons learned from bioenergy projects that are up and running.
Conference organizer Michael Seipel, chair of the Truman Agriculture department said, “Farmers, landowners, and young people entering agriculture need current and accurate information to help direct agriculture’s role in our energy future. This conference brought together a set of bioenergy researchers, consultants, entrepreneurs, and financiers that you don’t often see on one conference program. Attendees walked away with the information that they need to answer landowner and student questions.”
Funding for the conference was provided by a Professional Development Program grant from USDA’s North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE).
View the full conference program at
http://bioenergyconference.truman.edu.
Conference sponsors included Truman State University, University of Missouri Extension, Soil and Water Conservation District and Missouri Rural Enterprise & Innovation Center.