Tuesday, December 9, 2014 
1:10 PM, 2045 Bainer Hall 

Topic: "Can we have in-state biofuel production from crops and residues in California?" 

Speaker: Stephen Kaffka 
Department of Plant Sciences and California Biomass Collaborative 

Abstract: 
California is often discounted as a location for crop and crop-residue based biofuel /biopower production due to high land values, multiple crop alternatives, and the need for irrigation. But industrial crops have long been produced in California and the large range of agroecological conditions occurring in the state provides opportunities for new bioenergy crops to be added to incumbent cropping systems in some locations. The results of analyses of promising bioenergy feedstock crops are presented, including winter annual oilseeds, energy (sugar) beets, sugar and energy cane, and grain. The bases for such crops compared to others like Miscanthus and switchgrass that are more frequently mentioned are high yields and resource use efficiency, complementarity with existing cropping systems, and the simple technology required for their use as feedstocks. The Bioenergy Crop Adoption Model (BCAM) was combined with detailed analysis of current land use patterns across the state to test the likelihood of adoption of these feedstock crops on a regional basis, including crop substitution effects. IMPLAN modeling was used to estimate local and regional economic effects. The use of land, water and other resources potentially allows for in-state production of a limited amount of biofuel and helps create economic benefits in rural areas among disadvantaged populations from the states energy transformation goals. Water policy and the states Low Carbon Fuel Standard will influence whether potential businesses become actual ones in California. 

Coffee and cookies will be served.