Joe Bouton, Ph.D., a scientist and Senior Vice President with The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, recently provided testimony before a subcommittee of the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.

Bouton was invited to comment on the agricultural research programs of the USDA as well as proposals being considered by the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research for the upcoming 2007 Farm Bill. His testimony focused on the USDA's proposed Agricultural Bioenergy and Biobased Products Research Initiative, contained within the research title of the proposed 2007 Farm Bill, which could provide $500 million over 10 years for renewable fuels and biobased products research. In addition, Bouton provided information concerning the Noble Foundation's agricultural programs and research in plant science and agriculture. He explained how the Noble Foundation's research and collaborations are assisting in the development of dedicated bioenergy crops for use in the cellulosic biofuels industry.

"USDA now has an opportunity to establish a research agenda capable of fostering a new cellulosic biofuels industry and participate in a true agricultural revolution," Bouton said.

Bouton highlighted five areas that could benefit from focused, basic research. These include: biomass harvest, handling, storage and transportation logistics; development of management plans for bioenergy crop growers; assessments of long-term soil nutrition to support high-yielding, perennial bioenergy crops; assessments of carbon and nutrient sequestration of perennial bioenergy crops; and integration of dedicated bioenergy crops into existing farming and agricultural operations.

Bouton distinguished these areas of research from those that have traditionally received significant federal support and are now capable of moving into the private sector.

"As the subcommittee writes the 2007 Farm Bill, it is important to remember that the private sector now possesses an ability to begin growing and managing the main bioenergy crops and conversion technologies and, as such, is well beyond basic science for the advancement of these fields," Bouton said, encouraging the subcommittee's use of federal funding to support new, early stage research to facilitate the emerging cellulosic ethanol industry.

"Debate over research has always been about how much money is needed for specific projects or programs, never about the mechanism of delivery or the structure of how we establish priorities," said Oklahoma Representative Frank Lucas, ranking member of the subcommittee. "Our role, on the Agriculture Committee, is to design the best policy to ensure that the funds made available for research are used in the most effective manner and that's what we're going to try to do in the next farm bill."

Due to its significant research in the field, the Noble Foundation has taken a leadership position in the improvement of switchgrass as a dedicated energy crop for the production of cellulosic ethanol. Bouton explained to the subcommittee that forming collaborations with for-profit companies has enabled the Noble Foundation to advance the research and move it into the marketplace.

"Through (our) collaboration, we are creating new, more productive switchgrass varieties through breeding and hybrid techniques," Bouton said. "Switchgrass is in its infancy as a production crop. We are confident that, with modern breeding tools, significant improvements can be attained in a relatively short period of time - much shorter than the 70 years it took for corn to reach its current production levels."

Bouton was joined at the public hearing by a distinguished panel including an under secretary with the USDA, the Chairman of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and two other university scientists and professors. The panelists included:

• Gale Buchanan, Ph.D., Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.;
• William H. Danforth, Ph.D., Chancellor Emeritus, Washington University, Chairman of the Coalition of Plant and Life Sciences, and Chairman of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Mo.;
• Bruce A. McPheron, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, Pennsylvania State University, on behalf of National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, University Park, Penn.; and
• George W. Norton, Ph.D., Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

07-023

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Photo:	Joe Bouton
Document:	Bouton's complete opening statement

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News Release Issued: May 13, 2007

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.