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NCERC shares DDGS study reports with U.S. Grains Council |
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The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) shared results of its recent dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) studies with the U.S. Grains Council. One study evaluated the effect of dietary inclusion of DDGS on growth performance and protein digestibility in tilapia, and another tested antibiotic residue levels in DDGS. Both of the projects were funded by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board.
"The U.S. Grains Council represents American farmers in the global market and in 2018-2019, 11 million tons of DDGS were sold in more than 97 countries around the globe. As an economical and value-added feed ingredient, DDGS have recently become of great interest to the aquaculture industry," said NCERC Director of Research Dr. Yan Zhang.
"NCERC's study on successfully including 20 percent DDGS with average protein level in tilapia feed, provides timely scientific data to support the marketing of U.S. DDGS by the USGC Global Programs Office. In the future, their office will continue to provide feedback from the customers to guide NCERC's aquaculture research to ensure that NCERC truly is the hub connecting the corn to ethanol industry in the U.S. with the global aquaculture industry."
Click here to see more information regarding the studies. |
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NCERC's Zhang presents at virtual FEW |
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This year's Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) looked very different than previous years. For its 36th annual workshop and expo, FEW was held virtually from September 15 to 17.
The first day of FEW offered two events: Biofuels Environmental, Health & Safety Forum and Low Carbon Fuel Production Workshop. NCERC Director of Research Dr. Yan Zhang participated and presented during the week's events.
The general session kicked off on the second day of the conference with a panel of industry representatives from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth Energy, and American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE).
The breakout sessions of FEW focused on plant-based technologies developed by various companies with great performance review, specifically, optimization of fermentations, high protein products, various technologies for fractionation, and ethanol yield monitoring.
As a leading expert in science and technology, NCERC's Zhang presented twice during the workshop, with one presentation titled Relieve World Hunger with Corn Protein from Midwest, and another titled Quantifying Ethanol Yield on a Per-Fermenter Basis in Commercial Ethanol Plants.
"I am very proud to attend FEW 2020 Virtual after the corn to ethanol industry went through such devastating loss due to COVID-19," said Zhang. "We are united to strive to develop fully functional biorefineries, with products including fuel and food grade ethanol, high protein coproducts for animal feed, and with various measures to reduce the carbon intensity score for ethanol produced."
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NCERC meets with Congressional Champions during Biofuels Summit |
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Growth Energy held its annual Biofuels Summit this month, where it unites industry experts to advocate for biofuels in Washington, D.C. This year's Biofuels Summit was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 150 participants attended the Biofuels Summit, including NCERC Executive Director John Caupert and Policy and Business Development Specialist Aimee Dillenberger.
“The Growth Energy Biofuels Summit is one of the premier events of the ethanol industry. Premier, in the fact Growth Energy not only does an outstanding job of providing industry, consumer and policy updates, but they compliment this wealth of information by incorporating Capitol Hill congressional visits into the event," said Caupert. "This year, due to COVID, the Biofuels Summit was conducted virtually. To say Growth Energy did a good job would be an understatement - they did a superb job. From start to finish, the entire summit was flawless."
Participants of the Biofuels Summit met with legislators and congressional staff in 87 offices, representing 15 states.
"Wednesday, September 16, NCERC was a participant in a series of virtual Capitol Hill meetings. Along with other ethanol leaders, NCERC extends its thanks to our Illinois Congressional members, who are true biofuels champions. NCERC presented 2020 Fueling Growth Awards to a number of Congressional members representing the great state of Illinois,” said Caupert.
Nearly four dozen lawmakers were honored with the 2020 Fueling Growth Award during the Biofuels Summit, which are awarded annually to outstanding champions with an exceptional record of support for the biofuels industry.
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Biomass Research and Development Board hosts Bioeconomy Initiative Forum |
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The Biomass Research and Development (BR&D) Board hosted a virtual Bioeconomy Initiative Forum this month, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Biomass Research and Development Act. The forum was designed to solicit stakeholder input and share the Bioeconomy Initiative's progress, including accomplishments and plans for the Board's Interagency Working Groups.
A handful of NCERC staff had the opportunity to participate in the forum including NCERC Executive Director John Caupert, Director of Research Dr. Yan Zhang, Fermentation Scientist Dr. Jie Dong, Communications and Outreach Specialist Claire Weinzierl, and Policy and Business Development Specialist Aimee Dillenberger.
The opening panel featured BR&D Board representatives including Scott Hutchins, Co-Chair of the BR&D Board and Deputy Under Secretary for the Research, Education, and Economics Missions Area, USDA, Michael Berube, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation in Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Mark Brodziski, Deputy Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Bill Hohenstein, Director of the Office of Energy and Environmental Policy, USDA.
NCERC Fermentation Scientist Dr. Jie Dong provided his feedback on the Forum.
"USDA, DOE and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are still working collaboratively and putting a lot of effort and funding support into the research of converting biomass, including corn fiber, to value-added products," said Dong. "More focus is being put on facing the challenges of scaling up, economical analysis, dealing with biomass variation and looking for more economical and advanced products from biomass."
Other panels of the forum included topics such as Mitigating Risks and Barriers, Metrics and Indicators, Innovation and Technology Development, and Stakeholder Engagement and Technology Transfer. The opening panel on the second day of the forum featured more BR&D Board representatives including Daniel Simmons, Co-Chair of the BR&D Board and Assistant Secretary for DOE's EERE, Sharlene Weatherwax, Associate Director, Science for Biological and Environmental Research, DOE, Gene Lester, Director of Directs Product Quality and New Uses and Biorefining and Biofuels National Programs, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, and Richard Dickinson, Division Director of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems, NSF.
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USDA ARS National Center for Agriculture Utilization Research
Virtual
September 1, 2020
BIOSTL Directors Meeting
Virtual
September 9, 2020
Danforth Center Luncheon Discussion
Virtual
September 10, 2020
Growth Energy Biofuels Summit
Virtual
September 14-17, 2020
DOE Bioeconomy Initiative Forum
Virtual
September 15-16, 2020
Fuel Ethanol Workshop
Virtual
September 15-17, 2020
Joint Bioenergy Institute Annual Meeting & Advisory Board Meeting
Virtual
September 17-18, 2020
BIO IMPACT Digital
Virtual
September 21-22, 2020
Benson Hill Grand Opening
Virtual
September 21 & 23, 2020
AgTech M&A Webinar
Virtual
September 22, 2020
National Corn Growers Association
Virtual
September 22, 2020
EERE Program Information Center Demo
Virtual
September 24, 2020
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NCERC Annual Stakeholders Meeting
Virtual
October 27, 2020
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National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC)
400 University Park Drive, Edwardsville, IL 62025
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