Released November 9, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. –Universities from 12 Midwestern states will host a virtual conference Dec. 1 aimed at promoting agriculture’s role in energy production.
“Growing the Bioeconomy: Solutions for Sustainability” will include live video presentations from several host sites and in-person sessions featuring local speakers. The University of Missouri will co-host the conference at the Bradford Research and Extension Center, just east of Columbia.
“Some of the country’s leading experts will be gathered in a unique way to discuss how agriculture can be an integral part of supplying the country’s energy needs in a sustainable way,” said Kent Shannon, MU Extension natural resource engineering specialist.
Keynote speaker James Lovelock will discuss how farmers can convert agricultural residues into biochar for incorporation into the soil. Producing biochar is a way to sequester carbon that otherwise would escape into the atmosphere during the burning or natural decay of plant matter.
Researchers also will discuss integrating conservation with biofuel feedstock production.
Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. with the first presentation set for 9 a.m. The afternoon program consists of two concurrent sessions, “Advances and Breakthroughs in Biofuels” and “Bioenergy Economic and Policy Issues.”
During lunch there will be a panel discussion by local speakers; the evening program will feature presentations on MU biofuel research.
Registration is $80, which includes meals and full conference access. For more information, including registration details and conference agenda, see http://extension.missouri.edu/energy/Biofuels.html.
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http://extension.missouri.edu/news/DisplayStory.aspx?N=570
Source: Kent Shannon, 573-445-9792
Writer: Robert E. Thomas, 573-882-2480, thomasr@missouri.edu
