60 Second Interview

60 Second Interview with WBM 08 Speaker Bob Avant, Bioenergy Program Director, Texas AgriLife Research, USA

Bob Avant is the Bioenergy Program Director at Texas AgriLife Research and is designing drought resistant, high tonnage sorghum as a major source of feedstocks for the US biofuels industry. Texas AgriLife Research is not a singular entity, but a group of 14 research centers and a member of The Texas A&M University System. Texas AgriLife Research (formerly the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station) claims 1,700 employees, of which 425 are doctoral-level scientists who are the top experts in their respective fields. See http://agbioenergy.tamu.edu/ for further information.

1) What are the unique benefits of High Tonnage Sorghum?

- The higher the tonnage the smaller the land footprint required.
- Higher tonnage also reduces the cost of biomass delivered to conversion plants.
- Sorghum is an annual, so it can be incorporated into a rotational pattern that farmers may be using.
- Existing forage equipment can be used to produce and harvest.
- Can be established (planted) faster and more reliably than perennials.

2) How long does it take to develop a crop of sorghum, where and in which environments are suitable?

- Sorghum is planted annually and will sprout within 1 week depending on soil temperature.
- It can be harvested in about 100 days, but can be stored on the stalk for several months.
- Sorghum is a native of Africa and can be grown in tropical and moderate regions (US south, central, and Midwest).

3) How sustainable is the plant? Does it require a lot of water?

- Sorghum is drought tolerant and its water use efficiency is much higher than corn.
- Nitrogen use efficiency is good for the tonnage produced but is proportional to the biomass production anticipated.
- Sorghum (as well as other annual crops) should not be produced in monoculture, but should be rotated.

Meet Mr Avant and 200 other biofuels experts from around the globe at the World Biofuels Markets Congress & Exhibition.