1. UNL – ARS-USDA & Fulbright Association
Final Report
Bioenergy and Biofuels Chair
Jose Geraldo Eugenio de Franca
Lincoln, NE, USA – Aug 04 to Dec 14 2012
. Acknowledgments
Thanks to the Fulbright Association. It is an honor and a privilege to be part of this
institution as a Fulbright Fellow. Dr. Luiz Valcov, Mrs. Rejania Araujo, Mrs. Giselle Melo and
Mrs. Camila Olimpio, I thank you for all the support since the application and throughout the
program at UNL.
I would like to express my thanks to Dr. Emidio Cantidio de Oliveira, who first advised
me to apply for the Fulbright Fellowship Chair in Bioenergy and Biofuels at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln.
My gratitude should be shown to Dr. Marcelino Granja, the Secretary of Science and
Technology of the State of Pernambuco; Dr. Frederico Montenegro, the General Director of
ITEP, and Dr. Julio Zoe de Brito, the General Director of IPA for their full support on my
request to spend the 2012 Fall at the UNL.
For the Itep colleagues with whom I am in direct contact, Sonia Valéria, who got the
helmet, Cristiane, Maria do Carmo, Eden, Marcos, Osmar, Elaine, Aníbal, Toinho, Antonio
Ferreira, I thank you very much for getting the things moving in my absence.
At Washington, DC, thanks to Mr. Jake Silva from IIE for providing the travel
arrangements and the due support from the Institute during the program.
At ARS-USDA Lincoln due to the hospitality from Dr. Kenneth Vogel, Dr. Rob Mitchell
and the scientific team on bioenergy, Mr. Robert Harrison, my roommate at Lincoln-ARS
headquarters, and Donna Martin, Amber Isenbart, Alvin Harding, Courtney Woods, Cheri
Marshal, John Toy, Patrick O’Neill, Steve Masterson, Patrick Callahan, Nathan Palmer, Aaron
Saathoff, Ben Fann, Suanne Kallis and Bill Bickmeir, I felt at home and could dedicate this
period for learning a bit more about the bioenergy research, technology and business activities
being carried out in the USA and Brazil and in the world as a whole. I thank all of Thanking you
for this familiar environment.
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2. With Dr. Vogel I had an incomparable opportunity to discuss agronomy, breeding and to
learn from his vast experience on American Agriculture about the efforts that are being made in
the USA in order to have cultivated feedstuff options for the second generation ethanol, and
other hydrocarbons and byproducts. I hope that will not take a long time to witness those
accomplishments been applied in a large scale industrial initiative. With the ARS I felt back on
my dearly original professional activity: Plant Breeding. Even for few moments it was pleasant
to handle plants, panicles, flowers, and more than anything to be updated with the switchchgrass,
indiangrass, big bluestem grass, and the sorghum programs at Lincoln.
I would express my gratitude to Dr. Ron Yoder, and his team, Murd Holland and Zaneta
Hahn. Dr. Yoder has been quite patient with me on discussing the path and opportunities to
enhance the level of collaboration between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Brazilian
schools, support agencies and research institutions, particularly on how to use in the best way the
program Science without Borders Program in order to attend the priorities set up by the
governments of Brazil and the USA in the last few years.
I am in debt with all the professors and staff from UNL as well as with the friends from
the Partners of the Americas, Lincoln chapter and the Brazilian community for the special time
spent with us and the thorough support.
. Introduction
The USA and Brazil are the two countries which have most invested in developing a
biofuel industry in the last decades, especially in the case of ethanol. The pathways followed by
each country were distinct. While Brazil has the sugarcane as one of this most important cash
crop, and produces sugar and alcohol since the XVI century, the USA has based its production in
converting corn starch to ethanol, except for few industrial plants which operate with sugarcane
in the Southern states.
Therefore for the first generation ethanol, Brazil leaded its efforts in modernizing its
sugarcane industry and industrial infrastructure, since the 70’s while the USA was able to create
a modern industrial complex of ethanol production based on corn grain since the last decade.
At the moment the USA and Brazil are in a crossroad on ethanol production. In the USA
the limits established by its legislation towards the corn starch ethanol were reached while in the
case of Brazil the economic crisis and the evolution of sugar prices, the increased in use have
resulted in a default for its industry in producing enough biofuels for its demand at an acceptable
price for the consumer.
Altogether with the environmental and climate change realities and commitments,
independently from the oil and gas prices, and from the recent developments on the
technological upgrade for the industry through fracking, horizontal drilling, discoveries of new
reserves of natural and shale gas, in case of the USA; and the Pre-salt oil reserves in Brazil the
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3. second generation biofuels will be a reality, and soon a few countries, among them the USA,
Brazil, China, Italy, and Canada will have the domain of this technology.
The chair on bioenergy and biofuel established by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
and the Fulbright Association may be recognized as a strategic initiative from both institutions
attending the USA and Brazil agreements enacted by both countries since President Bush and
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2007 and confirmed by President Obama and President
Dilma Roussef in 2011. It aims to bring together the scientific community of both countries on
bioenergy and biofuels in order to speed up the bioenergy and biofuels technological
development.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has chosen Brazil as one strategic country for its
foreign program and this decision has to be translated in joint initiatives between the UNL and
the Brazilian institutions, Appendix 1. The Fulbright fellowship, together with the Science
without Borders Program, and the support from Capes, CNPq, FAPESP and other scientific
Brazilian Agencies may be the backbone to support a durable program with that nation.
As for this I feel compelled in presenting a suggestion for this program on the area of
Bioenergy and Biofuels, as well as some hints on other technological areas that during my stay I
consider relevant for relevant cooperative efforts.
. Proposed Research Program in Bioenergy and Biofuels for the USA and Brazil
There is a need for a research, development, teaching, technology transfer and innovation
program to be carried out by the USA and Brazil during the next decade on advanced biofuels.
The first generation ethanol has succeeded and constitutes in a drastic change in the agricultural
and energy environment in the last decade. Now the circumstances are ready for the next big
step: the second generation liquid fuels, cogeneration and byproducts. It is clear that this goal
will be easier achieved if among all the nations, Brazil and the USA, as the most interested
countries in this business may work together. Those are the areas we consider ready depending
on issues as intellectual property and technology transfer.
I. Agronomy
Sugarcane and Corn
. Abiotic stresses – cold, heat and drought
The drought on the American Middle West in 2012 was a clear example of the need for
genetic genotypes in corn that are able to tolerate less water and higher temperature. The job was
done in the USA due to the introduction of specific genes in the corn breeding programs which
permitted the availability to the growers of hybrids that certainly were not available ten years
ago. It means that the efforts on gene identification and data mining as well as on the
development of transgenic materials will be a clear demand from now on in order to answer the
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4. climate change scenarios predicted ahead. In some way the same can be applied to sugar cane,
either in case of high as well as low temperatures.
. Lignocellulose material – content and quality
Since the corn stalk or the sugarcane bagasse, tops and leaves will be used for
cogeneration, ethanol or hydrocarbon production, and knowing that one of the limiting effects is
the conversion, either biochemical, chemical or physical, there will be a need for the breeding
programs aim specific traits on lignocellulosic arrangements which will be able to proceed
through conversion and fermentation with higher energetic efficiency.
. Water use efficiency
Despite the gains witnessed with the use of irrigation techniques and water deficit and
analysis predictability, there will many more to be done for crops such as corn, soybean,
sorghum, sugarcane and the dedicated grasses and forest species that are being used for
bioenergy production.
. Transportation and logistics
Due to the bulky, fluffy, low density material characteristics of the corn stalk it is not
been easy to get it to the plant. It is hard to see a sound economic advantage in transporting the
material from an area with a radio superior to 32 km (20 miles). On the other hand, despite the
higher density for the sugarcane tops, the leaves are as most as dense as the corn stalks,
therefore, event for the sugar and distillery mills R&D efforts have to be invested on packing,
pelleting and transportation of those feedstuffs.
Sweet Sorghum
The sweet sorghum is the number one candidate crop to fulfill the intermediate stage
between the first and the second generation ethanol either in Brazil or in the USA. The results
that have been obtained in Brazil in 2011/2012 have shown that this crop can be a real option to
complement the distillery operation for one to two months. During the last planting season the
field yields reached 60 t.ha-1, while the industrial yield was 40 l.t-1 of cane crushed. Therefore
2,400 l.ha-1 (600 gal.ha-1) was produced in 125 days. Considering that with sugarcane the ethanol
output per hectare is 7,000 l, in average, the demonstration trials that with additional investment
in R&D the crop will become a real player in the first and second generation ethanol production
either in the sugarcane or in the corn-starch producing systems.
In the Central and South regions of Brazil a sugarcane and distillery operates for 8 to 9
months, while in the Brazilian Northeast from 6 to 7 months. The capital cost is higher enough to
justify the extension of use for 30 to 60 days per year.
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5. The sweet sorghum will be processed by the end of the sugarcane harvest. There will be a
number of reason for this crop to be considered as this technology bridge: a. Totally mechanized,
which allows the use of farm equipment for corn and other cereals; b. A short cycle crop, being
able to be harvested between 120 and 130 days after planting; c. Mechanical harvesting - This
operation may use the same harvesters used in the sugarcane plantation; d. Compatible industrial
operation – It does not need any change in the plant with additional equipment for crashing or
during fermentation; d. Bagasse and co-products utilization -The sorghum bagasse can generate
energy, to be sold as feedstuff, for the paper industry or for the composite industry as it has been
done with the sugarcane bagasse; end e. Water use efficiency in biomass production – Sorghum
may be grown in areas of the distillery or sugarcane mill that are not advisable for sugarcane
production due to the rainfall deficit.
The trait or set of traits listed above may constitute the main topics for a joint program.
. Total biomass production and quality
. Juice and fermentable sugar contents
. Lodging tolerance
. Photoperiod response
. Leaf diseases and stem borer resistance
C4 Grasses – Switchgrass, Napier grass (model crops)
The switchgrass research program at Lincoln, leaded by the ARS team is recognized as
among the top plant bioenergy programs in the nation. It is not by chance that the breeding
research at Lincoln started in 1936, directed for forage use, and around 20 years ago, also as a
species with a bioenergy option.
The results that have been obtained in this program, on areas such as agronomy, crop
system, breeding, seed production, adaptability, quality analysis have been remarkable. Despite
the fact that some universities and research institutions have sent a number of scientists and
professionals for UNL and particularly to the ARS-USDA Lincoln, it seems that the interaction
between the United States and Brazil should be more robust by this time.
The Brazilian institutions are known for the very effective forage breeding and managing
program they have been conducted in the Cerrado’s region, with species from the Genus
Brachiaria, Pennisetum and Pannicum, among few other. However it is important to state that
no Brazilian institution has accomplished what has been done with the program conducted by Dr.
Kenneth Vogel and his team in terms of biomass production and sustainability towards the
energy use for any grass specie in particular.
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6. In term of warm-season grasses the topics below may be considered as strategic for future
engagement from both parts, as follows.
. Resilience
. Total biomass production and quality
. Carbon sequestration
. Life cycle analysis
For the following research themes it will suggested that a further and deep evaluation
from the UNL faculty and staff and from the ARS-USDA Lincoln may take place in order to
identify partners in the USA, in order to present to the Brazilian institutions a framework of a
comprehensive program.
II. Biotechnology and Biochemistry
Sucrose
. Yeast strains tolerant to high temperature
. Yeast strains tolerant to high ethanol content in the beer
Starch
. Yeast strains tolerant to high temperature
. Yeast strains tolerant to high ethanol content in the beer
. Modified starch molecules
Lignocellulose
. Designing enzymes to convert C5 sugars
. Lignin use
. NIRS analysis
. Identification and use of specific bioenergy applied traits
III. Environmental Issues
Climate Change
. GHG emissions
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7. . Carbon sequestration
. Water use efficiency in biomass production
. Water use efficiency in industrial activities
Life Cycle Analysis
. Net energy ratio
. Reduction in use of agrochemicals
. Biological N fixation in grasses
. P and K bioremediation
Mechanization
. Mechanical harvesting
. Soil compaction
. Transportation of leafs and tops
IV. Industrial Demands
Liquid Fuels
. Sugar extraction
. Enzymatic conversion
. Lignin use
. Hydrocarbons
Energy
. Electricity
. Thermal conversion
. Biogas
Byproducts
. Bio plastics
. New materials
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8. . Conclusions and Recommendations for the Suggested Program
There will be a huge scope for an interactive RD & Innovation program to be considered
including private companies involved with liquid fuels, energy and byproducts. Considering
Agronomy research, the warm-season grasses and sorghum programs may be the flag ship for a
joint effort that includes CTBE, Embrapa, Petrobras, and a number of Brazilian public and
private universities, as related in the list attached to this report.
Besides Bioenergy and Biofuels I would list a set of strategic areas to further
implementation, as follows.
. Complimentary Areas for Technological Cooperation
1. Fulbright fellowship on Bioenergy and Biofuels in Brazil for American Scientists - It
will be advisable that the Fulbright Association with any Brazilian scientific agency may
offer a chair on the subject enabling the American scientific community to get acquainted
with what has been done in Brazil during the last decades.
2. Corn Breeding and Production – I will recommend strongly that the Brazilians
institutions leading with plant breeding will study and apply the genetic modification
aiming the development of parental lines and hybrids tolerant to water stress and biotic
stresses. The drought occurred in the American Plains during the 2012 summer and the
yields obtained with corn under those severe conditions talks by itself. There will be no
time to lose if the Brazilian farmers have to keep the pace with the Americans on corn
production.
3. Ogallala and Guarani Aquifers – The institutions and farmers from Nebraska have a
long history on handling the water of Ogallala Aquifer for irrigation and other purposes.
It seems that since the Guarani Aquifer, which spreads out in Brazil, Paraguay and
Uruguay, with risks of the depletion of the water content and its contamination due to the
intense use of pesticides, there has been the right time to build up an research and
technology transfer program between the University of Nebraska- Lincoln and
institutions from those three South American countries.
4. The National Drought Mitigation Center – UNL IANR - http://drought.unl.edu/ - This
center should be one of the most important initiative to be shared between the UNL and
some Brazilians institutions specialized on weather forecast and climate analysis in the
Northeast Region of the country in Particular. I will advise strong commitment from
ITEP in the State of Pernambuco and FUCEME in the State of Ceara to interact with the
National Drought Mitigation Center staff in order to have a joint program on dealing with
droughts in the USA and Brazil.
5. Engineering Teaching, R&D and Consulting – Mechanical, Civil, Electrical,
Computer, Biosystem among others – The last decade has witnessed a stabilization of the
Brazilian economy and a surge of investments in many areas such as oil and gas, naval
industry, electric transmission, mining, urban infrastructure, among others. The Brazilian
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9. government has launched an ambitious infrastructure program, the PAC – Acceleration
Growth Program, aiming to rebuild or construct new roads, ports, airports, with emphasis
on the support of the countryside production of agriculture and mineral commodities and
the national and international trade initiatives. Among the limitation it was detected that
one of the striking limitations was the lack of high qualified professionals to attend those
efforts. Today the central government together with the state and private schools and
universities are working hard on how can enhance the engineering teaching quality and
the domain on new technologies applied in different fields. Those are areas that UNL,
and in some cases with other American Universities and Research and Innovation
institutions may take part in this effort.
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10. . Technical and Cultural Activities during the Fellowship Program at UNL
. Articles
1. Revista Opinioes – Setor Sucroenergetico – Uma Nova Arquitetura – Jul – Ago 2012 –
www.revistaopinioes.com.br/aa/materia.php?id=1099
2. Preface for the Book: Manual de Praticas de Laboratoriais: Um guia para a pesquisa –
Oct 3 2012
. Reviews of Articles and Projects
1. Research proposal - Genetic Improvement of Sorghum for Non-grain Energy Uses - Aug
16 2012
2. RMP - Revista dos Mestrados Profissionais de Pernambuco – Proposta de Licitacao
Sustentavel a Fundacao Joaquim Nabuco
3. RMP – Revista dos Mestrados Profissioais de Pernambuco – Perfil Administrativo do
Governo Lula: Percepcao dos graduandos em administracao publica na Universidade
Federal de Pernambuco – Campus Agreste
4. RMP – Revista dos Mestrados Profissionais de Pernambuco – Politicas de Recursos
Hidricos o Brasil: As politicas publicas municipais de preservacao dos rios Ipojuca,
Capibaribe e Ipanema, em Pernambuco
. Seminar Delivered
1. UNL-IANR and ARS-USDA – East Union – Nov 28 2012 – 11:00 – Bioenergy and
Biofuel Development in Brazil and the USA: A Path to Cooperation – Presentation
attached
2. Graintek 2012 – Moscow, Russia – Nov 12 2012 – Bioeconomy in Brazil: State of the art
and perspectives
. Seminars Attended
1. Aug 16 2012 - Keim Hall - r 150 – 14:30 – Dr. Mike Francki – The wheat pre-breeding
innovation pipeline at DAFWA: Delivering research products for desirable traits in
commercial breeding
2. Aug 23 2012 – Keim Hall – r 120 – 15:30 – Dr. Mahdi Aoda – Crop Production in Iraq
and water scarcity: Challenges and prospective solutions
3. Sep 05 2012 – Biotech/Life Sciences – r 103 – 16:00 – Dr. Brian A. Larkins – Associate
Vice-Chancellor for Life Sciences UNL – Maize endosperm: A system to investigate
complex biological process
4. Sep 10 2012 – Center for Grassland Studies – EUC – 15:00 – Dr. Rob Mitchell –
USDA/ARS/UNL - Improved Grasses for Perennial Pasture
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11. 5. Sep 11 2012 – Hardin Hall Auditorium – r 107, 16:00 – Dr. Anthony (Tony) Michaels –
Private Equity - Taking Agricultural and Sustainability
6. Sep 12 2012 – Hardin Hall Auditorium – r 107 – 15:30 – Dr. John Gammon – Earth &
atmosphere sciences & biological sciences, University of Alberta, Canada - Sensing our
multicolored world – Plant pigments as functional indicators
7. Sep 19 2012 – Hardin Hall Auditorium – r 107 – 15:30 – Dr. Elizabeth Anderson –
Florida International University – Balancing Freshwater Needs of Humans and
Ecosystems in East Africa
8. Sep 20 2012 – Keim Hall – r 150 – 16:00 – Dr. James Stack – KSU – Plant Biosecurity in
a changing world
9. Sep 24 2012 – Hardin Hall Auditorium – r 107 – 15:00 – Mr. Ron Binz – Utility and
energy policy contractor – Energy Choices for 21st Century
10. Sep 26 2012 – Hardin Hall Auditorium – r 107 – 15:30 – Art Zygielbaum, Tim
Arkebauer, Betty Walter-Shea – UNL – Remote Sensing, Water Stress, and Things that
go Bump in the Night
11. Sep 27 2012 – Char Building – r 116 – 15:00 – Clayton Yeutter – Former Secretary of
Agriculture of U.S. and former Trade Representative of U.S., and UNL Professor –
Recent Developments in International Agri-food Markets
12. Sep 28 2012 – Keim Hall – r 150 – 15:30 – Humberto Blanco – Professor of Soil
Management UNL – Crop Residue Management and Soil Quality
13. Sep 28 2012 – Lied Center – Main Hall – 19:30 - Four former agricultural secretaries –
U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, Clayton Yeutter, John Block and Dan Glickman – discussed
"The Land-Grant Mission of 2012 – Transforming Agriculture for the 2050 World."
14. Oct 01 2012 – Center of Grassland Studies – EUC – 15:00 - Gerry Steinauer, Nebraska
Game and Parks - "Using Fire and Tree Thinning to Manage Missouri River Oak
Woodlands"
15. Oct 02 2012 – Hardin Hall Auditorium – 19:00 - Mike Hayes, Mark Svoboda and Kelly
Smith, all of the National Drought Mitigation Center – School of Natural Resources
Seminar – Tracking the 2012 Drought: Nebraska and beyond
16. Oct 04 2012 – Keim Hall, r 150, 11:00 - Carrie A. Knot – USDA-ARS Sorghum
Geneticist Position Seminar
17. Oct 05 2012 – Keim Hall, r 150, 15:30 – Agronomy Seminar – Sagoewa Maradosa –
Buffalo grass performance great in the drought, but still suffering
18. Oct 09 2012 – Keim Hall, r 150, 11:00 – Soon O. Park – USDA-ARS Sorghum
Geneticist Position Seminar
19. Oct 11 2012 – Keim Hall, r 150, 11:00 – Melinda Yearka – USDA-ARS Sorghum
Geneticist Position Seminar
20. Oct 25 2012 – Keim Hall, r 150, 15:30 - Baoguo Li – Associate Dean, College of
Resources & Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University - Crop water use
and water productivity in China – Agronomy and Horticulture Fall 2012 Seminar
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12. 21. Oct 25 2012 – Embassy Suites Ball Room, 1040 P Street – Daniel Hillel – World Food
Prize Laureate 2012 - Managing our Scarce Water in a Changing Climate - Robert B.
Daugherty Water for Food Institute UNL
22. Oct 28 2012 – 15:00 - UNL EU - Grassland Studies Seminar – Can Production
Agriculture and Conservation of Biodiversity Co-exist on Great Plains Rangelands -
David Engle - Regents Professor and Director of the Water Research and Extension
Center, Oklahoma State University
23. Oct 30 2012 - Entomology Lecture – UNL EU – 16:00 - "Pest Control Innovations at
BASF Specialty Products and Career Opportunities" Bob Davis, BASF
24. Oct 30 2012 - Natural Resources Seminar – Hardin Hall UNL, 5 130 – Oct 30 2012 –
"The Biodiversity of Nebraska Within the Great Plains" by Paul Johnsgard and Mary
Bomberger Brown
25. Nov 01 2012 – UNL Lecturer – Nebraska Union UNL Auditorium – Oct 30 2012 – 15:30
- "The Joy of Applied Science While Feeding the World," – P. Stephen Baenzeger –
Professor UNL
26. Nov 01 2012 - The G.E. Hendricks Symposium- Nebraska Union Auditorium - "The
Politics of Food in North Korea," - Rhoda Howard-Hassmann - Canada Research Chair
in International Human Rights at Ontario's Wilfrid Laurier University
27. Nov 26 2012 – 15:00 - UNL EU - Grassland Studies Seminar - Twenty Years of the
Nebraska Environmental Trust Preserving, Protection and Restoring Nebraska's - Mark
Brohman - Executive Director, Nebraska Environmental Trust
28. Nov 27 2012 – 13:00 – Keim Hall – r 150 – MSc Thesis – Environmental Trigger in
Winter Annual Weed Emergence Management to Reduce Soybean Cyst Nematode
Reproduction on Winter Annual Weed Hosts – Rodrigo Werle
29. Nov 30 2012 – 15:30 – Keim Hall – r 150 – Agronomy Seminar – Gene flow, herbicide-
resistant weeds, crop volunteers and much more ... – Amint Jhala – UNL – Department of
Agronomy and Horticulture
30. Dec 03 2012 – 15:00 – Grassland Seminar – UNL East Union – Potential Effects of Corn
Stover Grazing on Soil Properties – Brien Wienhold – ARS-USDA Lincoln
31. Dec 14.2012 – 15:30 – Department of Agronomy Seminar – Keim Hall 150 – Corn
Production in Crina – Dr. Shaowun Li – Institute of Crop Science - CAAS
. Technical Events attended
1. The CenUSA Annual Summit - Lincoln, NE – Aug 7-9 2012
2. UNL – ARDC – Public Schedules – Ithaca, NE – Aug 28 2012
3. Graintek 2012 – Moscow, Russia – Nov 12-13 2012 – Bioeconomy in Brazil: State of the
art and perspectives – Presentation attached
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13. . Technical Visits
1. Texas A&M University – College Station, TX, USA – Oct 15 – Oct 19 2012
Agenda
Sunday – Nov 14
14:00 – 16:00 - Dr. Lloyd Rooney and Maxine
Monday – Oct 15
08:30 – 09:30 - Dr. Roger Norton - N E Borlaug Institute of International Agriculture - Texas
A&M
09:30 – 10:30 – Dr. Roger Norton, Dr. Alan Sam e Dr. Mark Hussey – College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences – Texas A&M
12:00 – 12:30 – Dr. Bill Rooney – Soil and Crop Sciences Department – Sorghum Breeding
Tuesday – Oct 16
11:00 – 13:00 - Dr. David Baltensperger – Head of the Soil & Crop Sciences - Texas A&M Soil
& Crop Sciences Depart
14:30 – 15:30 – Mrs. Vi Cook – International Programs - Bizzel Hall West – r 361
Wednesday – Oct 17
09:00 – 10:00 – Dr. Esther Rodriguez, Dr. Jorge DeLeon and Mr. Bharani – IDIS – Texas A&M
12:00 – 14:00 - Dr. Jorge Alvarado - ENTC - Texas A&M University
15:00 – 16:00 – Dr. Eduardo Gildin – Petroleum Engineering – Texas A&M University
19:30 – 21:00 – Nair and John Edwards
Thursday – Oct 18
07:30 – 17:30 - Houston - Nasa & other places
19:00 – 21:00 - Dr. Marcel Amstalden
Friday – Oct 19
12:00 – 14:00 - Dr. Ulisses Braga-Neto – Electrical Engineering – Texas A&M University
19:00 – 21:00 – Dr. Roger Norton
Saturday – Oct 20
06:45 - Leaving to Lincoln
. References Consulted
A. A. Boateng, K. B. Hicks and K. P. Vogel. Pyrolysis of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
harvested at several stages of maturity. J. of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. 2006. v. 75, 66-64
Adam J. Liska and Richard K. Perrin. Indirect land use, emissions in the life cycle of biofuels.
Biofuels, Byproducts & Biorefineries. 2009. V.3, 318-328
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14. Adam Liska and Kenneth G. Cassmann. Towards standardization of life cycle metrics for
biofuels: greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and net energy yield. Journal of Biobased
Materials. 2008. v. 2, 187-203
Adam Liska and Richard Perrin. Securing foreign oil: A case for including military operations in
the climate change impacts. Environment. 2010. Jul-Aug, 52:4, 9-22
Adam Liska; Haishun S. Yong; Virgil R. Brenner; Terry J. Klopfenstein; Daniel T. Walters;
Galen E. Erickson and Kenneth G. Cassman. Improvement in life cycle energy efficiency and
green gas emissions of corn ethanol. Journal of Industrial Ecology. DOI. 10.1111/j.1530-
9290.2008.105.x
Aggide Gorgatti Netto and Levon Yeganiantz. Embrapa’s Food-Feed-Bio-Energy Production
Systems: A joint government-industry research venture. Brasilia, Embrapa – DDM, 1982, 32p
Amory Lovins. A farewell to fossil fuels. Answering the energy challenge. Foreign Affairs.
2012. Mar-Apr
Aviva Glaser and Patt Glick. Growing Risk – Addressing the invasive potential of bioenergy
feedstocks. NWF – National Wilde Life Federation
BP Statistical Review of World Energy. June 2012. bp.com/statisticalreview
Bruce S. Dien; Gautham Sarath; Jeffrey F. Pedersen; Scott E. Sattler; Han Chen; Deanna L.
Funnel-Harris, Nancy N. Nichols and Michael H. Cotta. Improved sugar conversion and ethanol
yield for forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) L. Moench) lines with reduced lignin contents.
Bioenergy Res. 2009. v. 2, 153-164
Bruce S. Dien; Hans-Joachim G. Jung; Kenneth P. Vogel; Michael D. Casler; Jo Ann F. S.
Lamb; Loren Iten; Robert B. Mitchell and Gautham Sarath. Chemical composition and response
to dilute acid pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification of alfalfa, reed canarygrass and
switchgrass. Biomass & Bioenergy – doi.: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2006.02.04
C. S. Wortmann; A. J. Liska; R. B. Ferguson, D.J. Lyon; R. N. Klein and I. Dweikat . Dryland
performance of sweet sorghum and grain crops for biofuel in Nebraska. Agronomy J. v02. Is 1,
2010, 319-326
Caitin S. Byrt; Christopher P. L. Grof and Robert T. Furbank. C4 plants as biofuel feedstocks:
optimizing biomass production and feedstock quality from a lignocellulosic perspective. Journal
of Integrated Plant Biology. 2011. v. 53, n 2, 120-135
Cyro G. Teixeira; Jose G. Jardine; Gilberto Nicolella and Margarida H. Zaroni. Invluencia da
epoca de corte sobre o teor de acucares de colmos de sorgo sacarino. Pesquisa Agropecuaria
Brasileira. Sept 1999. v. 34, n. 9, 1601-1606
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15. Daniel F. Amaral and Emerson Caraiola Kross. Requisitos de sustentabilidade no comercio
internacional de biocombustiveis: barreiras tecnicas ou exigencies pertinentes?. Politica Externa.
2012. v. 21. N. 2, 115-132
Deepak R. Keshwani and Jay J. Cheng. Switchgrass for bioethanol and other value-added
applications. A review. Bioresource Technology. 2009. v. 100, 1515-1523
E. Talamini and H. Dewes. The macro-environment for liquid biofuels in Brazilian science and
public policies. Science and Public Policy. 2012, 39, 13-29
Emmanuel D. Dutra; Adauto G. Barbosa Neto; Romulo Simoes C. Menezes and Marcus A de
Melo Jr. Producao de etanol a partir do suco do colmo de diferentes cultivares de sorgo sacarino
em Pernambuco. XVIII Simposio Nacional de Bioprocessos. Caxias do Sul, RS, 24 a 27 de julho
de 2011
EPE. Cenarios para exportacao de etanol para os EUA. MME. 2010. v. 03, p 14
European Commission – Communication on Innovation for Sustainable Growth – A bioenergy
for Europe. 2012. Brussels, 51 p
European Commission. Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council. Amending
directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the quality of petrol
and diesel fuels and amending Council directive 93/12/EC. Aug 2012
FAO BEFSCI. Impacts of bioenergy on food security. Guidance for assessment and response of
national and project levels. 2012. 56 p
Frank Alex Feltus and Joshua P. Vandenbrink. Bioenergy grass feedstock: current options and
prospects for trait improvement using emerging genetic, genomic, and systems biology toolkits.
Biotechnology for Biofuels. ISSN 1754-6834, Article type: review. Submission date: 11 may
2012. Acceptance date: 5 October 2012. Publication date: 2 November 2012. 40 p.
Gautham Sarath; Bruce S. Dien; Aaron J. Saathoff; Kenneth P. Vogel; Robert B. Mitchell and
Han Chen. Ethanol yield and cell wall properties in divergently bred switchgrass genotypes.
Bioresource Technology. 2011. v.102, 9579-9585
Gautham Sarath; Robert B. Mitchell; Scott Stadler; Deanne Funnel-Harris; Jeffrey F. Pederson,
Robert GrayBosh and Ken P. Vogel. Opportunities and roadblocks in utilizing forages and small
grains for liquid biofuels. J. Industrial Biology and Biotechnology. 2008. 35. 343-354
German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. Statement: Bioenergy – Chances and Limits. 2012.
118 p
H. G. Jung; Buxton, D. R. Buxton, R. D. Hatfield and J. Ralph. (Editors). 1993.
ASA/CSSA/SSSA, 659 p
15

16. Hal Bernton; William Kovarik and Scott Sklar. The Forbidden Fuel: A history of power alcohol.
2010. Bison Books. New edition. University of Nebraska Press – Lincoln and London, 274 p
Hans-Joachim G. Jung; Deborah, A. Smach and Gautham Sarath. Review: Modifying crops to
increase cell wall digestibility. Plant Science. 2012. N 185-186, 65-77
Jane A. Longdale; C4 cycles: Past, present and future research on C4 Photosynthesis. The Plant
Cell. Nov 2011. v. 23, 3879-3892
Jeff Siegle; Chris Nelder and Nick Hedge. Investing in Renewable Energy: making money on
green chip stocks. Willey.com. 2008. 257 p
Joao Natalle Neto. A Saga do Alcool. Novo Seculo. 2005, 343 p
Jose N. Tabosa; Marta M. A. Do Nascimento; Odemar V. dos Reis; Ana R. B. Brito; Jose A.
Tavares and Ivan Ferraz. Producao de biomassa e eficiencia de uso de agua de cultivares de
sorgo no semiarido de Pernambuco e mdois estagios de colheita. XXVIII Congresso Nacional de
Milho e Sorgo. 2010. Goiania, GO, ABMS CD ROM
Joseph DiPardo. Energy Information Administration/ Outlook for Biomass Ethanol Production
and Demand. 1998. 14 p.
Kenneth P. Vogel; Bruce S. Dien; Hans G. Jung; Michael Casler; Steven D. Masterson and
Robert, M. Mitchell. Quantifying actual and theoretical ethanol yields for switchgrass using
NIRS analysis. Bioenergy Research. 2011. 4:96-110 - DOI10.1007/12155-010-9104-4
Kenneth G. Cassman and Adam Liska. Food and fuel for all: realistic or foolish? Digital
Commons – UNL. Agronomy Faculty Publications. 2007. 6-27
Kenneth P. Vogel; M. R. Schemer and R. B. Mitchell. Plant adaptation regions: Ecological and
climate classification of plant materials. Rangeland Ecol. Management. May 2005. v. 58, 315-
318
Kenneth S. Deffeys. Hubert’s Peak – The impending world oil shortage. 2003. Princeton
University Press, 208 p
M. A. Liebig; M. R. Schmer; K. P. Vogel and R. B. Mitchell. Soil Carbon storage by switchgrass
grown for bioenergy. Bioenergy Research. Published online. 2008. DOI 10.1007/s 12155-008-
9019-5
M. R. Schmer; K. P. Vogel; R. B. Mitchell and R. K. Perrin. Net energy of cellulosic ethanol
from switchgrass. PNAS. Jan 2008. V 15, n 2, 464-469
M. R. Schmer; M. A. Liebig; K. P. Vogel and R. B. Mitchell. Field-scale property changes under
switchgrass managed for bioenergy. GCB Bioenergy. 2011. v. 3, 439-448
16

17. Marcos Troyjo. BRIC: Strategies to compete. Columbia University J. of Public Politics and
Society. 2012. v. XXIII, n. I, Spring, 4-10
Oxfam. The hunger grains. www.oxfam.org, Sep 2012, 33 p
Pamela P. Peralta-Yashya, Fuzhong-Zhang; Stephen B. del Cardayre and Jay D. Keasling.
Microbial engineering for the production of advanced biofuels. Nature. 2012 Apr. v. 488, n. 16,
320-328
Paul Stevens. The shale gas revolution: Developments and changes. Energy, Environment and
Resources. Aug 2012. EERG BB, 2012, v. 04
R. Braun; B. Drosg; G. Bachmann; W. WeiS and r. Kirchmayr. Recent developments of
bioenergy recovery through fermentation, Ch. 2. Microbes at Work (ed. H. Insam et al). 2010.
Spring Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
Richard D. Perrin; Kenneth P. Vogel; Marty Schemer and Robert B. Mitchell. Switchgrass cost
of production: Data from on-farm trial, 2001-2005. UNL Faculty Publications: Agriculture
Economics. Agriculture Economics Department. 2008. 15 p
Robert B. Mitchell; Kenneth P. Vogel and Daniel R. Uden. Biofuels. The feasibility of
switchgrass for biofuel production. Biofuels. 2012, v. 31, n 1, 47-59
Roger Samson; Sudhagar Mori; Robert Boddey; Shahab Sokhonsonj; Diego Quesada; Segundo
Urquiaga; Veronica Reis and Claudio Ho Lem. The potential of C4 perennial grasses for
developing a global BIOHEAT industry. Critical Review in Plant Sciences. 2005. v. 24, 461-495
Rogerio Cerqueira Leite. Bioetanol combustivel: uma oportunidade para o Brasil. CGEE. 2009.
536 p
Ronald F. Follet; Kenneth P. Vogel; Gary E. Varvel; Robert Mitchell and John Kimble. Soil
Carbon sequestration by switchgrass and no-till maize grown for bioenergy. Bioenergy Research.
Published online. May 04 2012. DOI 10.1007/s 12155-012-9198
Rosamond L. Naylor; Adam J. Liska; Marschal B. Burke; Walter P. Falcon; Joanne G. Grakell
and Scott D. Roz. The ripple effect. Environment. 2007. v49, n9, 30-43
Santos, M. C. S.; Tabosa, J. N.; Mello, A. C. L. and Santos, M. V. F. Comportamento de clones
de Pennisetum submetidos a periodos de restricao hidrica controlada. Arch. Zootc. 2011. v. 60,
n. 229, 31-39
Scott E. Stadler; Deanna L. Funnel-Harris and Jeffrey F. Petersen. Efficacy of singular and
stacked brown midrib 6 and 12 in the modification of lignocellulose and grain chemistry. v. 58,
3611-3616
17

18. Sean Higs. Poverty: Does Brazil’s conditional cash transfer program have a rural bias?.
Columbia University J. of Politics and Society. 2012. v. XXIII, n. I, Spring, 88-125
Seth C. Murray; Arun Sharma; William L. Rooney; Patricia E. Klein; John E. Mullet; Sharon E.
Mitchell and Stephen Krasovich. Genetic improvement of sorghum as a biofuel feedstock: I.
QTL for stem sugar and grain nonstructural carbohydrates. Crop Science. 2008. V48, Nov-Dec,
2165-2179
Shin-ichi Tsuruta; Masumi Ebina; Makoto Kobayashi; Taiichiro Mattori, and Takayoshi
Terauchi. Analysis of genetic diversity in the bioenergy plant Erianthus arundinaceus (Poacea:
Andropogoneae) using amplified fragments length polymorphism markers. Grassland Science.
2012. v. 58, 174-177
Stephen R. Decker; Romand Brunecky; Melvin P. Tuckel; Michael E. Himmel and Michael J.
Selig. Highthroughput screening techniques for biomass conversion. Bioenergy Res. 2009. v. 2,
179-192
Susan Nuanpeng; Lakkana Laopaiboon; Penjit Srinophakum; Preekamol Klanrit; Prasit Jaisil and
Pattan Laopaiboon. Ethanol production from sweet sorghum juice under very high gravity
conditions: Batch repeated-batch and scale up fermentation. Eletronic Journal of Biotechnology.
Jan 2011. v. 14, n. 1, Valparaiso, Chile, Versao ISSN 0717-3458, 7 p
Taiichiro Hattori and Shingenori Morita. Enerngy crops for sustainable bioethanol production.
Which, where and how? Plat Prod. Sci. 2010. v. 13, n. 3, 221-234
Virgil Bremer; Adam Liska; Terry J. Klopfenstein; Galen E. Erickson; Haishun S. Yang; D.
Waters; K. Cassmann. Emissions savings in the corn ethanol life cycle from feeding co-products
to livestock. J. Environ. Qual. 2010. v.39, 472-482
Vishnu Menen and Mala Rao. Trends in bioconversion of lignocellulose: biofuels, platform
chemicals and biorefinary concept. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science. 2008, v. 38,
522-550
W. J. Ortz; K. M. Holtman and J. N. Suber. Agriculture chemistry and bioenergy. Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2008. v. 56, 3892-3899
Ye Sun and Jianyang Cheng. Review paper: Hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials for ethanol
production. Bioresource Technology. 2012. v. 83, 1-11
Yongqing Ma, Yu an, Junfeng Shui and Zhaojun Sun. Adaptability evaluation of switchgrass
(Panicum virgatum L) cultivars on the Loess Plateau of China. Plant Science. 2011. v. 181, 638-
643
18

19. Yuelian Mao; Anthony C. Yannarell; Sarah C. Davis and Rodrick I. Mackie. Impact of different
bioenergy crops on N-cycling bacterial and archaed communities in soil. Environmental
Microbiology. 2012. Doi.: 10.11/j. 1462-2920.2012.02844
. Cultural Activities
I would like to praise the UNL Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts
Program. It enabled us to be exposed to a beautiful agenda of cultural activities during our stay at
Lincoln as listed below. The moments at the Lied Center, the Kimball Hall, the Mary Riepma
Ross Center, and the Cathedral were marvelous and unforgettable. This subject, as for me, is a
plus for any student, professor or scientist who would like to come to Lincoln. Besides the
scientific and teaching activities one may be exposed to the finest of art and culture. I and my
family enjoyed it very much indeed.
01. Sep 18 2012 – 19:30 – Hixson-Lied Concert Series – Kimball Recital Hall - The Chiara
String Quartet and Guest Skyros Quartet
02. Sep 20 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Music – Kimball Recital Hall – Guest Artist
Krassimira Jordan, Piano
03. Sep 21 2012 - 20:00 – Sheldon Friends of Chamber Music – Sheldon Museum of Art –
Hyeyung Julie Yoon, Soyeon Kate Lee & Gregory Beaver
04. Sep 25 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Arts – Faculty Recital – Kimball Recital Hall - Karen
Becker, Cello – Ann Chang, Piano, Christopher Marks, Harpsichord
05. Sep 20 2012 – 15:00 – UNL School of Arts – Kimball Recital Hall - Faculty Recital - UNL
Faculty Jazz Group
06. Sep 30 2012 – 19:30 – Lincoln Symphony Orchestra – Lied Center Auditorium – Guest
Artist Sarah Buechner
07. Oct 02 – 19:35 – Mary Riepma Ross Center – Sacrifice – Chinese Film Festival – Directed
by Kaige Chen
08. Oct 03 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Arts – Kimball Recital Hall - UNL Wind Ensemble –
Carolyn Barber – Conductor
09. Oct 09 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Music – Kimball Recital Hall - Mystery and Madness
– University Singers – Peter A. Eklund – Conductor
10. Oct 21 2012 – 19:30 – Marcus Theatre - Lincoln – Movie: Alex Cross
19

20. 11. Nov 02 2012 – 19:30 – UNL the Hixson-Lied College of Fine & Performing Arts – UNL
Opera – Kimball Recital Hall – O Pioneers! - music.unl.edu
12. Nov 03 2012 - 15:00 – UNL School of Music - Kimball Recital Hall – Singer’s Contest
13. Nov 03 2012 – 19:00 – UNL School of Arts – Lied Center Auditorium – The 20th
Anniversary 2012 Sing Around Nebraska Honor Choir
14. Nov 04 2012 – 18:45 – Marcus Theatre – Lincoln Movie: Flight – Denzel Washington
15. Nov 07 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Arts – Lied Center Auditorium- Compagnie de
Danse: Jene-Rene Delsoin – Haiti
16. Nov 09 2012 – 19:30 – Lied Center Auditorium – Lincoln Symphonic Orchestra – (Selva and
Ulysses)
17. Nov13 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Arts – Lied Center Auditorium - Vienna boys Choir –
Wiener Sangerknaben – (Selva and Ulysses)
18. Nov 17 2012 – 18:30 – Nebraska Union Auditorium – Chinese Movie: Hero
19. Nov 19 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Music – Hixson-Lied Concert Series – Kimball
Recital Hall - The Chiara String Quartet – Rebecca Fisher, Hyeyung Julie Yoon, Jonah Sirota,
Gregory Beaver
20. Nov 22 2012 – 19:15 - Mary Riepma Ross Center – Movie: The Sessions - Directed By: Ben
Lewin -With: John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy, Moon Bloodgood, Annika Marks,
Adam Arkin, Blake Lindsley, Jarrod Bailey, Robin Weigert, W. Earl Brown
21. Nov 23 2012 – 16:45 – Mary Riepma Ross Center – Movie talk: Cave of Forgoten Dreams –
Cauvet Caves – France
22. Nov 24 2012 – 18:45 – Marcus Theatre – Lincoln – Directed by Steve Spielberg – Daniel
Day Lewis
23. Nov 25 2012 – 16:00 – First-Plymouth Church – Abendmusik – Messiah and Coronation
Anthems by George Frideric Handel
24. Nov 27 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Music – the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and
Performing Arts – Kimball Recital Hall – Diane Barger, clarinet, with Kate Butler, mezzo
soprano; Mark Clinton, piano; Lori Falcone, accordion; Rebecca Fischer, violin and Jeffrey
McCray, bassoon. McAllister Madness – The Clarinet Music of Scott McAllister – A Lecture
Recital
25. Nov 29 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Music – The Hixson-Lied College of Fine and
Performing Arts – Kimball Recital Hall - The Percussion Ensemble – Meditations – Anthony M.
Falcone, conductor; Al Rometo, associate conductor, with John Bailey, flute, UNL Senior Dance
Ensemble, Susan Levine, director and choreographer
20

21. 26. Dec 01 2012 – 19:30 – UNL -The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film and Theatrix –
The Temple 3rd floor - Melancholy Play, by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Joshua Waterstone
27. Dec 02 2012 – 19:30 – Lied Center Auditorium – Lincoln Symphony Orchestra – Deck the
Halls
28. Dec 03 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Music – Kimball Recital Hall – Large Brass
Ensembles – Alan Mattingly, Craig Fuller and Scott Anderson – directors
29. Dec 04 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Music – Kimball Recital Hall – UNL Jazz Ensembles
in Concert! Featuring guest artist-in-residence Clay Jenkins, trumpet
30. Dec 05 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Music – Kimball Recital Hall – UNL Wind Ensemble
– Carolyn Barber, conductor
31. Dec 06 2012 – 19:30 – UNL School of Music – UNL Symphony Orchestra – ‘French-and
Russian-Connections’
32. Dec 09 2012 – 15:00 – UNL School of Music – Big Red Singers, Rocktavo and Vocal Jazz
33. Dec 12 2012 – 19:30 – Mary Riepma Ross Center – Movie: Price Check
34. Dec 13 2012 – 19:30 – Nebraska Wesleyan University Theatre – McDonald Theatre - The
Complete Works of Christmas (Abridged)
35. Dec 15. 2012 – 14:00 – Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company - Lied Center Auditorium – The
Nutcracker at Lied
21

22. Appendix 1
Brazilian Universities to be addressed by the UNL as priority for a joint research, teaching and
innovation program on science and technology - 2012-2014
Brazilian State/town University webpage Rector Colleges to be
Region addressed
North PA – Belem Federal www.portal.ufpa.br Carlos Edilson de Engineering
University of Almeida Maneschy – and Agricultue
Pará reitor@ufpa.br
North AC – Rio Federal www.ufac.br Olinda Batista Assmar – Engineering
Branco University of reitoria@ufac.br and Agriculture
Acre
Northeast CE - Federal www.ufc.br Jesualdo Pereira Farias – Engineering
Fortaleza University of reitor@ufc.br and Agriculture
Ceará
Northeast CE - State University www.uece.br José Jackson Coelho Engineering
Fortaleza of Ceará Sampaio
Northeast PE - Recife Federal www.ufpe.br Anisio Brasileiro – Engineering
University of anisio.brasileiro@ufpe.br
Pernambuco
Northeast PE - Recife State University www.upe.br Carlos Calado – Engineeering
of Pernambuco ccalado@bccons.com.br and
Architecture
Northeast PE - Recife Agricultural www.ufpe.br Maria Jose Sena – Agriculture
Federal reitoria@reitoria.ufrpe.br
University of
Pernambuco
Northeast BA - Federal www.ufba.br Dora Leal Rosa Engineering,
Salvador University of Architecture
Bahia and Agriculture
Midwest MT - Federal www.ufmt.br Maria Lúcia Cavalli Engineering
Cuiaba University of Neder and Agriculture
Mato Grosso
Midwest MS – Federal www.nt-ufms.br Celia Maria Silva Correia Engineering
Campo University of Oliveira – and Agriculture
Grande Mato Grosso do reitoria@ufms.br
Sul
Midwest DF - University of www.unb.br Ivan Marques de Toledo Engineering,
Brasilia Brasilia Camargo – Architecture
chefegre@unb.br and Agriculture
Southeast MG - Federal www.ufmg.br Clelio Campolina Diniz – Engineering,
Vicosa University of reitor@ufmg.br Architecture
Minas Gerais and Agriculture
Southeast MG - Federal www.ufla.br José Roberto Soares Engineeering
Lavras University of Scolforo – and Agriculture
Lavras reitoria@reitoria.ufla.br
Southeast SP – Sao University of www5.usp.br Joao Grandino Rodas Engineering,
Paulo and São Paulo Architecture
Piracicaba and Agriculture
Southeast SP – Sao State University www.unesp.br Julio Cesar Durigan – Engineering
Paulo and of São Paulo visone@reitoria.unesp.br and Agricultue
Botucatu
22

23. Southeast SP – Sao Federal www.ufscar.br Targino de Araujo Filho – Engineering
Carlos University of beth@ufscar.br
São Carlos
South PR - State University www.uem.br Julio Santiago Prates Engineering,
Curitiba of Maringá Filho Architecture
and Agriculture
South PR - Federal www.ufpr.br Zaki Akel Sobrinho - Engineering
Maringa University of gabinetereitor@ufpr.br and Agriculture
Paraná
South RS – Porto Federal www.ufrgs.br Carlos Alexandre Neto - Engineeering,
Alegre University of reitor@gabinete.ufrgs.br Architecture
Rio Grande do and Agriculture
Sul
South RS - Pelotas Federal www.ufpel.edu.br Antonio Cesar Gonçalves Engineering
University of Borges and Agriculture
Pelotas
Dec 15 2012
Jose Geraldo Eugenio de Franca
Superintendende de Pesquisa e Pos-graduacao do ITEP
geugenio@itep.br, geugenio1@tera.com.br
23

24. Bioenergy and Biofuel Industry in the USA and Brazil
– Path to cooperation
Geraldo Eugenio de Franca
Fulbright Association
UNL – IANR & ARS-USDA
ITEP – The Technology Institute of Pernambuco
Lincoln, NE – Nov 28 2012
Acknowledgments
• Brazil • USA
• ITEP – The Technology • UNL – IANR – Dr. Ron Yoder
Institute of Pernambuco –
Dr. Frederico Montenegro
• ARS-USDA Lincoln – Dr. Ken
• IPA – The Agriculture Vogel and ARS team
Research Institute of PE –
Dr. Julio Zoe
• Fulbright Association – Dr. • IIE – International Institute
Luiz Valcov of Education – Mr. Jake Silva
24

25. Summary
. Bioenergy policies in Brazil
. The sugarcane and the ethanol industry
. The second generation ethanol and other hydrocarbons
. Biological and industrial R&D demands
. The cooperation between Brazil and the USA
Biofuels World Map
25

26. Bioenergy Policies in Brazil - A brief account
• 1931 – 5% mixture of ethanol in gasoline
• 1966 – 25% is the allowable mixture
• 1975 – Brazilian Alcohol National Program – Proalcool
• 1979 – Proalcool – Second phase
- Iran-Iraq war – Crude prices jumped from US$ 14.00 to US$
30.00/barrel
• 1983 – Brazilian Energy Nation Program – Biodiesel research – Univ. Fed.
of Parana
Bioenergy Policies in Brazil - A brief account
• 2002 - Ethanol – gasoline mixtures ranges from 20 to 25%
• 2003 – Automobile industry launches the ‘flex-fuel’ vehicle –
(ethanol – gasoline)
• 2005 – Law 10097 – Biodiesel legislation and National Agrienergy
Plan
• 2010 – The Brazilian National Laboratory of Bioethanol – CTBE
inaugurated
• 2010 – Embrapa’s National Agrienergy Research Center
26

27. 27

28. Sugarcane acreage in Brazil – million hectares
Gráfico 1 - Evolução da área de cana
8,0
7,0
6,0
Milhões de Hectares
5,0
4,0
3,0
2,0
1,0
0,0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Soca Reformada Expansão Em reforma
Fonte: Elaboração EPE a partir de INPE [20]
Sugarcane production in Brazil – million tonnes
Gráfico 2– Histórico anual de produção de cana
700
622,6 627,3
600
565,8
500
Milhões de toneladas
400
300
254,9
200
100
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Fonte: EPE com base em MAPA [26]
28

29. Sugarcane primary energy – 1 ton
1/3 juice: ethanol and sugar – 608 x 109 kcal
153 kg sugar or 90 l ethanol
1/3 bagasse: vapour and electricity – 598 x 109 kcal
1/3 leafs and tops - 512 x 109 kcal
Total 1,718 x 10 9 kcal
1 crude barrel 1,386x 10 9 kcal
Sugarcane geography in Brazil
29

30. Brazilian ethanol supply
Gráfico 3 – Oferta de etanol
30,0 28,0
26,1
25,0
23,0
19,9
19,1
Milhões de m³
20,0
14,3
15,0
11,5
10,0 8,0 8,7
6,5 7,0
5,0
5,0
0,0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Anidro Hidratado Etanol Total
Fonte: Elaboração EPE a partir de MAPA [30]
Flex-fuels vehicles sales in Brazil – 2003 - 2011
Veículos Flex Fuel
Participação nas vendas de veículos leves - em milhões de unidades
3.5 100%
87.2% 88.2% 86.4%
85.6% 90%
3.0 83.1%
78.1%
2.9 80%
2.8
2.5 2.7
70%
2.3
60%
2.0
Millions
50.2% 2.0
50%
1.5
40%
1.4
1.0 30%
21.6%
0.8 20%
0.5 3.7%
10%
0.0 0.3
- 0%
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Vendas de veículos flex Participação de veículos flex nas vendas de veículos leves
Source: EPE 2012
30

31. Brazilian ethanol production and oil price
Fonte: BP e EPE
USA RFS Program requirements
31

32. Ethanol Production in the USA and Brazil
Projected ethanol importation from the USA
Gráfico 7 – Projeções de Importação – Estados Unidos
3,0
2,6
2,5 2,3
2,2
2,0
2,0
1,7
Bilhõe s de litros
1,6 1,6
1,5
1,5
1,4
1,3
1,0
0,5
0,0
200 8 200 9 2010 2011 2012 20 13 20 14 20 15 20 16 20 17
Fonte: elaboração EPE a partir de EIA [19].
32

33. USA and Brazil R&D collaborative program
Environmental
Agronomy
issues
Priority areas
Biochemistry and
Industrial issues
Biotechnology
Agronomy - R&D demands
Sugarcane and Corn
• Abiotic stresses – cold, heat, drought
• Lignocellulose material - content and quality
• Water use efficiency
• Transportation logistics
Sweet Sorghum
• Total biomass production and quality
• Juice and fermentable sugars content
• Lodging tolerance
• Photoperiod response
• Leaf diseases resistance
C4 Grasses – Switchgrass, Napier grass
• Resilience
• Total biomass production and quality
• Carbon sequestration
• Life cycle analysis
33

34. Biotechnology and Biochemistry – R&D
Sucrose Starch Lignocellulose
• Yeast strains tolerant • Yeast strains tolerant • Designing enzymes
to high temperature to high temperature for conversion – C5
• Yeast strains tolerant • Yeast strains tolerant • Lignin use
to high ethanol to high ethanol
content in the beer content in the beer • NIRS analysis
• Modified starch • Identification and use
molecules of specific traits
Environmental issues
Climate Change Life Cycle Analysis Mechanization
• GHG emissions • Net energy ratio
• Harvesting
• Carbon sequestration • Reduction in use of
• Soil compaction
agrochemicals
• Water use efficiency
in biomass production • Transportation of
• Biological N fixation
leafs and tops
• WUE in industrial • P and K
activities bioremediation
34

35. Industrial demands
Liquid fuels Energy Byproducts
• Sugar extraction • Electricity • Bio-plastics
• Enzymatic conversion • Thermal conversion • New materials
• Lignin use • Biogas
• Hydrocarbons
USA and Brazil – Mechanisms of cooperation
2007 – Agreement - President Bush and President Lula
da Silva
. Bioenergy, ethanol, joint projects
2011 – MOU on Scientific Cooperation - President Barak
Obama and President Dilma Roussef
• Agriculture, health, aerospace engineering, bioenergy
2011 – The Science without Borders Program
• Brazil is sending 100,000 students abroad in 4 years
• 75,000 students with public funds.
• 18,000 selected. Around 4,000 to the USA
35

36. PhD and MSc students graduated – 1998 - 2011
Source: MCTI 2012
Fulbright Association – UNL & ARS-USDA
Thanking you!
Geraldo Eugenio
geugenio@itep.br
36