Biomass waste to value

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The agricultural sector generates enormous amounts of biomass waste. The biomass residues left over following the harvesting of products such as corn, wheat, and soya beans have to be properly managed. If these wastes are disposed by open air burning and/or allowed to decompose, they liberate greenhouse gases (GHGs) and particulate matter into the atmosphere that have a significant negative impact on climate change. Waste biomass contributes to more than 70% of nitrous oxide, a GHG nearly 300x more toxic than carbon dioxide. Currently, power generation by straw burning, densification of crop residues into fuel pellets, composting, and the utilization of agricultural bedding in bio-digesters are some of the strategies being pursued to extract value from biomass wastes. Here, we propose to develop microbial-based technologies for the manufacture of value-added products such as next generation biofuels from the carbohydrate-rich waste residues. Next-generation biofuels are renewable alternatives to gasoline, produced from non-traditional feedstock such as wheat straw, corn stover, wood residue and switch grass. Therefore, the overall goal of this proposal is to develop microbial-based value-added products from biomass waste generated by the agriculture sector. More specifically, this research aims to utilize advances in genetic engineering technology in conjunction with natural accelerated evolution processes to develop enhanced microbial-based technologies for the production of biofuels from agricultural waste material. Overall, the proposed technology will help reduce GHGs associated with fossil fuels and therefore contribute to the Canadian Government's mandate for a net zero carbon dioxide emission economy by 2050.