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Meeting this demand would require "feedstock innovations, such as crop modification, new value chain configurations, and agronomic technology improvements
," the report adds. Understanding this need, several companies are involved in advancing biomass innovations.
Trait development
Ceres Inc., Thousand Oaks, Calif., for example, has been focusing on energy-crop trait development. With a Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy grant, Ceres conducted a multi-year study in several states to explore its biotech traits that would allow growers to produce higher-yielding energy crops with fewer crop inputs. In addition, Ceres confirmed the performance of its nitrogen utilization trait in switchgrass, miscanthus and sorghum.
Richard Hamilton, Ceres president and CEO, recently reported that the nitrogen utilization trait has translated into higher biomass yields - as much as 50% or more in some cases.
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Ceres also has shown that its traits to increase juice volume and sugar content in sweet sorghum have advanced in its product development pipeline. Ceres has introduced sweet and high-biomass sorghum hybrids at ethanol mills in Brazil, and has formed a market development agreement with Syngenta AG, which is evaluating crop protection products to be used with the sorghum.
In the U.S., Ceres currently markets two high-biomass sorghum hybrids and three switchgrass varieties under the Blade Energy Crop brand. The company also is working on seeded miscanthus varieties in its research and development program.
Genera Energy Inc., Vonore, Tenn., is working on advancing energy-crop cultivars, as well as harvesting processes and equipment and supply-chain management.