The Noble Foundation announced today that it has received two federal awards, totaling $700,000, in support of its research to develop advanced biofuels for energy production. The awards were made through a joint USDA and Department of Energy program targeting biobased fuels research to accelerate the development of alternative fuel resources.

"These research projects build upon DOE's strategic investments in genomics to accelerate scientific discovery and promote the development of alternative energy sources vital to America's energy and economic security," said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman in reference to the specific programs funded under this initiative.

The Noble research, led by Richard Dixon, director of Noble's Plant Biology Division, will seek to modify the cell wall structure of targeted plants to improve their conversion efficiency as well as potentially increase the usable amount of carbohydrates for conversion into ethanol. The research will target alfalfa and wheat, which are two potential feedstocks in the emerging cellulosic ethanol industry.

Cellulosic feedstocks, for example, wheat, alfalfa, switchgrass and corn stover, include an abundant source of carbohydrates that are convertible to sugars for fermentation into ethanol. Approximately 30% of the plant material takes the form of lignin, a compound responsible for a plant's structure, strength and rigidity. Lignin naturally encompasses the carbohydrates within a plant, which makes access to the carbohydrates difficult and increases the cost of producing ethanol from this plant material. Noble's research will modify the levels and composition of lignin to make such carbohydrates more accessible, increase conversion efficiency and reduce related processing costs.

"We are pleased that the importance of these projects was recognized and that our research can contribute to the United States' initiative to develop alternatives to traditional transportation fuels," said Dixon, a recognized leader in the area of lignin modification in plants.

Dixon's research is a critical component of the Noble Foundation's biofuel/biomass development program. In 2005, the Noble Foundation received a research award from the USDA to modify lignin levels and composition in switchgrass. In June 2006, the Noble Foundation and Ceres, Inc. entered into a long-term collaboration for the development and commercialization of new, advanced biomass crops for fuel ethanol production.

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News Release Issued: August 13, 2006

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.