(280e) Pan American Biofuels and Bioenergy Sustainability: A Research Coordination Network

The implications of large-scale biofuels and bioenergy production on environmental systems and social conditions are largely unknown. Yet despite this lack of fundamental sustainability knowledge, there currently is a rapid movement toward the development of biofuels and bioenergy production systems that will likely lead to dramatic changes in extant human and natural systems. These changes may be beneficial or detrimental, and may involve a number of issues such as land ownership and management, creation of new employment opportunities, occupational safety, unforeseen transportation and logistical challenges, impacts on water availability and quality, and potentially many others changes to social and environmental systems.

The goal of this RCN project is to create a community of biofuels/bioenergy researchers and industry/government/NGO practitioners concerned with sustainable biofuels and bioenergy development across the Americas.  The objectives of this project are to i. establish and sustain an international research coordination network with a focus on biofuels/bioenergy sustainability and with a geographic context of the Pan American region, ii. develop coordinated research programs, and iii. create new knowledge on social, environmental, and economic sustainability implications of large-scale biofuels/bioenergy production from biomass grown in this region. The Pan American Biofuels and Bioenergy Sustainability RCN will consist of researchers at universities and other organizations from North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Central America, and South America. These participants will have expertise in several sustainability dimensions of production and use of biofuels and bioenergy from a wide range of biomass feedstocks. This networked community will share scientific and educational knowledge through a well designed program that considers the diverse natural, cultural and political settings while creating the framework for developing a comprehensive Pan American biofuels/ bioenergy sustainability assessment to guide strategic research, investment and government policy. This RCN will have two main tangible deliverables; 1. a research roadmap report on sustainability of biofuels and bioenergy in the Pan American region, and 2. a graduate course in sustainability of biofuels / bioenergy to be developed within the network and disseminated to the network through the internet. A series of annual workshops and a major mid-project conference will be the primary means of achieving these deliverables, as shown in Figure 1. The RCN will be connected through a comprehensive cyber-infrastructure based upon the HubZero platform to support real time dissemination of the RCN products, enable real time collaboration across the network and provide for the growth of the proposed RCN.

This presentation will provide an overview of this new network and its activities, and provide a summary of outcomes from the first international workshop to be held in Merida, Mexico May 29-31, 2012.