Bioeconomy Q&A

Steve Pueppke, director of the Office of Biobased Technologies, answers some of the most often asked questions about the bioeconomy.

Q: What do we mean when we use the term "bioeconomy"?

A: The terms "bioeconomy" and "biobased economy" describe a future in which people rely more on renewable resources to meet society's needs for energy, chemicals and raw materials. Instead of an economy dependent on the planet's limited supply of nonrenewable resources such as petroleum and coal, we would convert plant material and municipal and livestock waste -- biomass -- into electricity, fuels, plastics and the basic components of chemical processes. In a bioeconomy, we can replace energy and materials as fast as we use them. Today we can't.

Q: Why is the bioeconomy so important to Michigan's future?

A: There are many signs that the bioeconomy is becoming a reality, not just in Michigan but around the nation and the world. American consumers feel the sting of high energy prices and know that this energy comes from sources that will eventually run out. Many people are uncomfortable with the nation's dependency on foreign nations for energy. The concept of renewable energy is something everyone can feel good about.

There is a less clear understanding of the other products made from petroleum -- solvents, lubricants, plastics, etc. -- but the same factors apply because the raw material is the same. U.S. political leaders would like to see public policy promote the use of renewable resources and the development of the bioeconomy.

The bioeconomy is particularly important for Michigan because of the state's economic situation. The state also has the prerequisites in place for a vibrant bioeconomy. Michigan has an abundance of raw materials -- wood and crops that could be used as biomass. The state's natural resources could support the growth of dedicated biomass crops. There are strengths in plant breeding and raw material processing at MSU and at other universities. There are firms such as the automotive and furniture industries that want to incorporate more biobased materials into their products. Michigan has a skilled labor force. And the state is strategically located near tens of millions of consumers. There aren't many places that can claim all these assets.

Q: Why is MSU uniquely positioned to take a lead role in developing the bioeconomy?

A: MSU has three great strengths. The first is its faculty members, who are world-renowned for their work in the plant sciences, engineering and chemistry, and economics. The second is our 150-year-old land-grant tradition, with its emphasis on fostering partnerships with stakeholders and providing research and education to help solve their problems. Engagement of this sort is in our blood. The third is President Simon and her commitment to make MSU a leader in the bioeconomy. Other institutions have some of these strengths, but ours is the only one that has all three -- and I believe that all three will be necessary.

Q: What is the role of the Office of Biobased Technologies in this effort?

A: I see our office's primary role as one of integration. Our traditional academic structure and land-grant tradition have given us all the raw materials to be a leader in the bioeconomy, but we have to find new ways to link people and knowledge together. Our plant scientists will have to think more about traits that make sense for biomass. They'll have to get acquainted with engineers who know what it takes to turn biomass into energy and platform chemicals. Engineers will have to learn more about plants. And everybody will have to talk to the economists. After all, the issue is not only what's technically feasible -- the bioeconomy has to make sense in dollars and cents, too.

We'll also have to be more nimble in our interactions with the private sector. Universities are not in the business of being in business. We're never going to produce a lot of biomass or refine it or manufacture products from it. But we have much to offer as partners with Michigan firms -- of all sizes -- that see opportunity in the new bioeconomy.

Q: As you look down the road, two decades from now, what do you envision related to the bioeconomy?

A: I envision a world of biorefineries, some very large and others small, on farms or in rural communities. I see biomass that today is treated as a waste product going into these refineries as raw materials. And I see useful materials coming out. A single plant might produce chemical building blocks and a biofuel, and then what's left generates heat or power. I suspect, too, that we will be much more efficient in the way that we use energy and raw materials.

And I see MSU continuing to provide the research and education to keep these refineries profitable, efficient and environmentally sound.