Program in Biorenewable Resources for Biofuels and Biobased Products

Principal Contact: Lawrence Johnson, Center for Crops Utilization Research, Phone: 515 294-4365, Email:

ljohnson (at) iastate (dot) edu

Iowa is at the epicenter of a bioenergy revolution, and the Plant Sciences Institute at Iowa State University leads a major research thrust to address biotechnological, environmental and socioeconomic issues in producing biofuels and biobased products. The Institute applies advanced technologies for sustainable production and efficient processing of bioenergy feedstocks.

Institute-affiliated scientists provide underpinning technologies in the following areas:

  • Crop genetic resources
  • Metabolic engineering
  • Bioenergy trait breeding
  • Crop chemical composition
  • Sustainable production systems
  • Microbial systems
  • Cellulosic conversion
  • Oil biochemistry
  • Bioprocessing systems
  • Public policy

Research Platforms

The Institute has five research platforms in biorenewable resources. Please visit these platform areas.

Feedstock Production

Feedstock Improvement

Feedstock Conversion

Advanced Technologies

Socioeconomic Issues

Partnership Opportunities

Each of the research platforms is supported by descriptions of research activities submitted by Iowa State faculty. Please contact us (

ljohnson (at) iastate (dot) edu
) about partnership status for access to descriptions in one of the above research platform areas.