Innovation in Bioethanol Research

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Liquid transportation fuels represent approximately 35% of the total energy consumption in Canada. The federal government has mandated a replacement of at least 5% of gasoline with ethanol by the year 2010 as part of a strategy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Husky Energy is one of the leaders in starch-based ethanol production in Canada. The current economic crisis, accompanied by high commodity prices and low fuel prices, has significantly challenged the bioethanol industry in Canada. The University of Manitoba Innovation in Bioethanol program addresses the full value-chain of bioethanol production to improve profitability and efficiency at all levels. Although corn is the most desirable starch-based cereal for ethanol production, cool conditions and a short growing season limit corn production in Western Canada. Winter wheat is the highest yielding alternative starch-based cereal that can be used effectively for ethanol production. Therefore, the objectives of this project are to develop winter wheat cultivars that provide a reliable source of high-quality disease-free feedstocks for the bioethanol industry, conduct fundamental research that will improve the understanding of the relationship between starch biosynthesis and yield in cereals, and improve the conversion of feedstocks to ethanol through bioengineering. A portion of the research is dedicated to determining the feasibility and steps required to transition the current infrastructure from starch-based ethanol production to cellulose-based energy production as new technologies are developed. This research will improve the profitability of the bioethanol industry by providing a reliable source of feedstock that producers are willing to grow and market the ethanol industry. Improvements in the bioethanol processing will provide higher feedstock conversion rates to ethanol and reduce the quantity of lower value co-product produced. Fundamental knowledge learned through physiological studies that evaluate starch production and yield will provide long-term strategies for improvement of grain yields for future food, feed and fuel purposes. Such improvements are critical to ensuring that interests in fuel production do not endanger access to food globally.