RALEIGH
Feb 29, 2024
RALEIGH – Thirteen agricultural research projects are receiving a total of $1 million in grants from the N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative and the New and Emerging Crops Program – programs of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The projects aim to boost bioenergy opportunities and crop production in the state.
“These grants are smart investments, and this research is forward focused on expanding opportunities for N.C. farmers and agribusinesses,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Agriculture and agribusiness remain North Carolina’s largest industry, and agricultural research has been the foundation of the new advances, improved plant varieties and the latest production techniques that have increased the efficiency, yields and competitiveness of the industry.”
The Bioenergy Research Initiative began in 2013, with the allocation of funds by the North Carolina General Assembly. The initiative’s grants of $500,000 support the development of energy production from North Carolina agricultural and forest-based products.
The New and Emerging Crops Program began with General Assembly approval in 2018. Through $500,000 in grants, the program advances its mission of identifying potential new crops, value-added products and agricultural enterprises, and providing the agricultural research, marketing support and education necessary to make these crops commercially viable and profitable for North Carolina’s growers and agribusinesses.
In addition to grant funding, NCDA&CS provides support with the state’s 18 research stations, which are operated in coordination with N.C. State University. The stations provide a place for researchers to conduct all or part of their projects, and most, if not all, of the projects make use of the stations.
Below is a list of grant amounts, recipients, titles and descriptions for each of the projects awarded through the 2023-2024 Bioenergy Research Initiative:
- $100,000 to NCSU’s Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering for a 2-year project titled “Carbon-neutral Energy and Nutrient Recovery from Solid Manures.” An autothermal updraft gasification system will be used to convert dried manures/litters into combustible syngas which can be directly burned for heat or power generation, or further catalyzed into liquid fuels. Additionally, a nutrient and mineral-rich solid co-product containing ash and biochar will be generated. This project will generate crucial new knowledge regarding converting N.C. manures into energy and fertilizer in a carbon-neutral manner.
- $85,000 to NCSU’s Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources to fund a 2-year project titled “Sycamore SRC: Connecting Producers and Markets.” This project will connect research, farmers and the bioenergy industry to catalyze bioenergy farming. It will focus on (1) Improving farmer understanding of American Sycamore (AS) as a Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) crop; (2) Accounting of the carbon sequestration potential of AS; (3) Creation of technology-driven automated information systems and (4) Coordination and collaboration among researchers, farmers and industry to develop a continuous supply of bioenergy feedstocks to local mills.
- $86,000 to Appalachian State University for a 2-year project titled “Slaughterhouse Waste-to-Nutrient Conversion via Bioenergy Technologies” that seeks to close the loop on organic waste management of decentralized animal processing facilities. The purpose of this project is to combine bioenergy technologies to efficiently convert non-marketable organic wastes into high value nutrients and soil amendments through Appalachian State’s biochar combined anaerobic digestion process in conjunction with aerated static composting.
- $129,000 to NCSU’s Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering for a 2-year project titled “Lemnaceae Selection for Fuel Butanol Production.” Lemnaceae, known as duckweed, grows well on wastewater and accumulate high amounts of starch, making them excellent candidates for biofuel production through fermentation. This study will apply modern selective breeding approaches to produce advanced varieties of L. gibba and study the potential of the species to produce fuel butanol.
- $100,000 to NCSU’s Department of Horticultural Science for a 2-year project titled “Quantum-Enhanced Bioenergy Grasses.” Miscanthus and tripidium are ideal bioenergy grass feedstocks due to their high biomass yields, broad adaptability and low input requirements. The project will develop new bioengineering and bioprocessing technologies to improve biofuel conversion efficiency and value-added products from these crops. These approaches will include non-GMO gene editing to improve desirable traits and novel bioprocessing methods to enhance bio-butanol conversion efficiency. Combined, these integrated efforts will serve to enhance yields, efficiency and profitability of the entire bioenergy supply chain, from sunlight to biofuel, while helping to grow and diversify N.C. agriculture.
Below is a list of grant amounts, recipients, titles and descriptions for each of the projects awarded through the 2023-2024 New and Emerging Crops Program:
- $30,000 to NCSU’s Department of Horticultural Science to extend the project titled “Adapting Bambara groundnuts to North Carolina” for a year. The Bambara groundnut is a grain legume originating in West Sub-Saharan Africa. It has an underground growth habit similar to a peanut. Bambara nuts are rich in carbohydrates, proteins and oils and have been sourced by companies as an ingredient for alternative protein products. The objectives of this proposal are to use selected materials from the 2023 trial for a breeding program, while studying efficacy and crop safety of Bambara nut to herbicides.
- $70,000 to NCSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences to continue for a year a project titled “De-risking Early Adoption of Sesame Production for NC Farmers.” Previous research was responsible for about 5,000 acres of sesame being contracted in N.C. in 2023, which generated significant agronomic knowledge and interest from growers, seed companies and processors. This year’s project goal is to continue to de-risk farmer early adoption of sesame production by investigating challenges experienced by farmers. The project will investigate plant populations, evaluate the feasibility of sesame production in a double-cropping system, identify and evaluate herbicide options for sesame, conduct a statewide variety trial and expand sesame-related extension activities and materials.
- $20,000 to N.C. A&T State University to initiate a one-year project titled “Cultivating Knowledge to Produce/Use Medicinal Crops.” This project aims to conduct variety trials using organic and conservation practices for bitter melon, specialty gourd and specialty radish. Goals of this project are to advance variety trials, establish a rigorous research- based guide for crop production, create market and financial analysis and conduct cooking demonstrations. Workshops, tours and field days will be offered in collaboration with subject matter experts to support farmers and communities to learn about medicinal crops.
- $70,000 to NCSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences to extend for a year a study titled “Refining Heirloom Rice Production in NC.” There is a growing client base for artisan and heirloom agricultural products. Carolina Gold Rice, grown on several plantations in southeast N.C. from the late 1600s to the mid-1800s, is one of the specialty crops sought by this growing market. Objectives for year four of this project are: 1) Determine optimum planting dates for heirloom rice; 2) Develop drone spray application methods that are economical and time efficient for flooded rice production and 3) Evaluate flooded rice for sequestration of nutrients found in aquaculture wastewater. These goals will be accomplished in partnership with Tidewater Grain Company with locations in Pamlico and Washington counties.
- $100,000 to NCSU’s Department of Horticultural Science to fund “Canary Melon, a NC Crop Option” for two years. Canary melons are prized for their mild yet unique flavors, intense sweetness and lack of musky aroma and flavor. Key objectives of this research are to: 1) Evaluate adaptability of canary melon cultivars to North Carolina; 2) Characterize key attributes such as yield, fruit size and time to optimum harvest; 3) Evaluate internal qualities such as sweetness and flesh firmness; 4) Determine sensory attributes such as unique flavors and juiciness; 5) Trial adapted cultivars on commercial farms to facilitate their presence in the market place and 6) Share information at grower and professional meetings.
- $50,000 to NCSU’s Department of Horticultural Science to fund for the first year a project titled “Carolina Super Teas.” Caffeinated drinks, including tea, yaupon and yerba mate (collectively called teas), are the most widely consumed beverage on the planet. There is considerable potential for the genetic enhancement and development of both yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) and tea (Camellia sinensis) as improved specialty crops for North Carolina. Recent work on developing cold hardy tea has been successful, surviving 0° F. Next steps are to systematically evaluate selections and hybrids for cold hardiness, regional adaptability and metabolic profiles. The overall goal of this project is to develop new N.C. crops (Ilex and Camellia) for next-generation super teas, extracts and landscape plants.
- $80,000 to NCSU’s Department of Horticultural Science to fund a 3-year project titled “Discovering VSD-resistant Redbuds for Nurseries.” Redbud production contributed $3.27 million in economic value in N.C. in 2019. Vascular Streak Dieback (VSD), a new widespread disease, caused 50-100 percent Eastern redbud plant loss in N.C. nurseries in 2022. VSD has also been discovered in 22 other important nursery crops. Therefore, it is urgent to evaluate VSD-resistant plants for the nursery industry. Breeding resistant plants takes decades. Preliminary observations indicate that some Asia redbud species showed strong VSD resistance and could be used as alternative redbuds. The project proposes to build a VSD-resistant testing field to screen 22 ready-to-use redbud relative plants.
- $80,000 to NCSU’s Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources for a 1-year project titled “Disease Resistant Exotic Fir Christmas Trees.” Phytophthora root rot (PRR) is a major threat to North Carolina’s multi-million-dollar Fraser fir Christmas tree industry. The goal of this project is to establish PRR resistant Turkish and Trojan fir seed orchards that produce 100% disease-resistant fir. The major project objectives are: 1) Evaluate post-harvest needle retention and insect tolerance of existing progeny tests and PRR survivor trees; 2) Analyze and compare seed sources (i.e., provenance) and predict breeding values of families and individual trees for selection of elite Turkish and Trojan fir genotypes and 3) Establish elite Turkish and Trojan fir clone banks and seed orchards in collaboration with NCDA&CS research stations in Laurel Springs and Waynesville.
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