USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the joint investment of $10 million towards research that will drive more efficient biofuels production and agricultural feedstock improvements.

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BRDI is a joint program run by NIFA and DOE to develop economically and environmentally sustainable sources of biomass and increase the availability of renewable fuels. (Photo: photosoup/Thinkstock)

"Advancements in bioenergy research will help protect our national energy security, reduce pollution, and bolster our energy supply," said Cathie Woteki, Under Secretary for USDA's Research, Education & Economics mission area. "Producing more renewable and biobased energy can also revitalize rural communities with a new economic market and provide farmers a profitable and sustainable investment through on-farm energy resources."

These awards were made through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. BRDI is a joint program run by NIFA and DOE to develop economically and environmentally sustainable sources of biomass and increase the availability of renewable fuels and biobased products, helping to replace the need for gasoline and diesel in vehicles, and diversify our nation's energy choices.

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Recipients of USDA funding include:

-University of Montana, Missoula, Mont., $1,403,868

-Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., $1,849,940

-State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, N.Y., $906,722

The Department of Energy funded projects by Ohio State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Grants awards and national program leadership for the BRDI program will be administered by NIFA and DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. A complete list of this year's project descriptions can be found on the NIFA website.

Source: USDA