Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | BB/G016216/1 | |
| Title | The BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre (BSBEC): Perennial Bioenergy Crops Programme | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Applications for heat and electricity) 40%; Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of other biomass-derived fuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 30%; Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of transport biofuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 30%; |
|
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences) 90%; PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 10%; |
|
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Dr A (Angela ) Karp No email address given Agro-Ecology Rothamsted Research |
|
| Award Type | Research Grant | |
| Funding Source | BBSRC | |
| Start Date | 02 March 2009 | |
| End Date | 01 October 2014 | |
| Duration | 67 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £5,259,854 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Transport Systems and Vehicles | |
| Region | East of England | |
| Programme | Bioenergy Initiative (BEN) | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Dr A (Angela ) Karp , Agro-Ecology, Rothamsted Research (99.993%) |
| Other Investigator | Dr RJ (Richard ) Murphy , Biological Sciences, Imperial College London (0.001%) Dr IS (Iain ) Donnison , IBERS, Aberystwyth University (0.001%) Dr J (John ) Clifton-Brown , IBERS, Aberystwyth University (0.001%) Dr H (Helen ) Ougham , IBERS, Aberystwyth University (0.001%) Prof P (Paul ) Dupree , Biochemistry, University of Cambridge (0.001%) Prof P (Peter ) Shewry , Plant Biology and Crop Science, Rothamsted Research (0.001%) Prof C (Chris ) Rawlings , Computational and Systems Biology, Rothamsted Research (0.001%) |
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| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | Objectives not supplied | |
| Abstract | The need to reduce fossil fuel contributions to climate change is the most significant and pressing challenge of this century. The overall aim of the BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre (BSBEC): Perennial Bioenergy Crops Programme is to underpin the development of a sustainable biofuels sector by optimising feedstocks from perennial biomass (non-food) crops whilst maximising energy savings and minimising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This programme will capitalise on (i) more than two decades of energy crop development and energy crop resources in Miscanthus and willow, giving the UK an internationally leading position; (ii) active breeding programmes linked to our research, which will allow the delivery of improved energy crops and;(iii) the active engagement of Shell and Ceres. Our science programme on Miscanthus and willow addresses two main objectives: (1) Optimising biomass yield. Approached by genetics, QTLs and genomics. Hypotheses (H) investigated are: H1: Radiation interception for C fixation may be maximised by improving thermal sensitivity and cold tolerance for early canopy expansion; H2: Carbon fixation may be maximised by altering crop morphology/architecture and, H3: Sustainable yields can be achieved by selecting for an optimal allocation ratio of above- (harvested carbon) and below-ground biomass (reserve carbon); (2) Optimising biomass composition. Approached by analytical and gene discovery routes. Hypotheses investigated are: H4: The efficiency of processing for sugar release and biofuel production can be improved by identifying and selecting for natural (and modified) crop variants with improved biomass composition and; H5: Improved understanding of cell wall synthesis and assembly can be exploited to develop new tools for selection of genotypes with improved accessibility of carbon in biomass. | |
| Publications | (none) |
|
| Final Report | (none) |
|
| Added to Database | 22/11/13 | |
