Biofuel Initiatives at 1890 Land Grant Schools

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Since the passage of the second Morrill Act in 1890, Historically Black Land Grant Colleges and Universities have provided research, extension, and education services throughout the southeastern United States. These 1890 Land Grant Universities share a commitment to serving the traditionally under-served, including:
  • visible minorities;
  • people with limited resources; and
  • small farmers.
Rising food and fuel prices bring particular challenges and opportunities to these stakeholders. A taskforce of researchers, extension specialists, and teachers at 1890 Land Grant Universities is exploring ways to ensure that biofuels benefit our traditional stakeholders.

Objectives

The 1890 biofuel taskforce has five program areas:
  1. Feedstock identification, production, characterization and enhancement;
  2. Development and optimization of small-scale technologies for converting biomass feedstock to biofuels;
  3. Biofuel quality and byproduct utilization;
  4. Teaching, education, and extension;
  5. Economic, environmental, and social impact assessment.