Energy Beet Display and Children's Carbon Cycle Handout Big Hits at Keystone Farm Show

by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Highlighting Advanced Biofuels USA's work on a feasibility study of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore energy beet project proved to attract many visitors and a bit of buzz at the Keystone Farm Show, "The Farm Show for Farmers," in York, Pennsylvania from January 10-12.

Few resisted an invitation to pick up the 8 pound beets derived from sugar beets by breeder, Baltimore's Plant Sensory Systems, and grown in test plots at UMES. For fun, volunteer Peggy Alpert (behind the table in photo) named them Henry and Lola.

Once they handled the energy beets, people wanted to know the story of the experiments and details about growing and processing them. Other than the clear evidence that indeed these beets bred for warmer, moister climates than their usual cool, dry environs grew well on the Eastern Shore without any fertilizer; a harvest window of August through December; and some preliminary data that show potential yield measured in ethanol-per-acre of more than twice that of corn starch ethanol, little could be said--yet.

The overview of the project starts with growing the energy beets on the Delmarva.

The project proposes conversion of the cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin to sugars using technologies developed by Atlantic Biomass with labs at Hood College in Frederick, MD.

These sugars, along with the sucrose, would then be converted to ethanol by microbes developed at Purdue University in Indiana; or into oils by microbes developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Indiana.

The next step would be conversion to jetfuel--the oils via existing pathways or the ethanol using an alcohol-to-jetfuel process such as that being developed by Vertimass in Massachusetts. The seed-to-wings system has been proven at lab scale, with continued work on efficiency needed.

What caught the attention of many farmers, however, was the potential 6-10 foot depth of the tap roots. Many in that part of the country were interested in whether energy beets could work like radishes they plant for compacted soil aeration. What interests researchers and farmers on the Delmarva, however, is the possibility of those roots reaching deep legacy phosphates and the possible use of the beets as a rotation crop or as part of a nutrient management program.

Beef and dairy farmers as well as those who raise poultry wanted to know about any animal feed value of the beets alone or from the high-protein co-product resulting from the sugar conversion process.

Hunters were interested in being able to plant seeds designed for the heat and humidity of the mid-Atlantic as a way to attract deer.

One truck driver wondered about possible new business development for transporting beets from harvest site to conversion facilities. Others mulled over the possibility of business related to contracting to harvest energy beets over the anticipated August to December window.

Most of the questions should find at least preliminary answers from the research currently under way at UMES, Plant Sensory Systems and Atlantic Biomass which will be included in the feasibility study. Other questions indicate areas of research that should be pursued in more detail.

This year children who stopped by the booth received a special puzzle page about biofuels and the carbon cycle. Focused on what carbon is and how carbon gets recycled (thanks to ClimateKids.NASA.gov) when fuels are made from agricultural and forestry processes, the information is reinforced with a word search, maze, picture to color and diagrams of the carbon atom. Parents of home-schooled children and teachers who stopped by particularly appreciated the handout.

In response to requests, it is available in the Statements and Handouts section on the website homepage.

Advanced Biofuels USA is grateful to Lee Publications, the organizers of the Keystone Farm Show for their continuing support of the organization's educational mission, donating booth space since 2012. In addition to helping the mid-Atlantic farming community learn more about biofuels, this event provides a priceless opportunity for Advanced Biofuels USA to learn, as well.

The perspectives, questions and information gained at this event will become part of the fabric of the energy beet feasibility study funded by a USDA Rural Business Development Grant. A preliminary summary and outline of the study should be ready for distribution in the spring; with the final due by the end of summer.