About the Program

The UGA Biorefining and Carbon Cycling Program is a collection of faculty and staff members from varied disciplines and representing colleges and departments within the UGA campus. This group focuses on Research, Outreach and Education concerning aspects of biomass production and conversion to value added products including fuels, energy and specialty chemicals. Interdisciplinary Focus Areas include:

  1. Research to understand biomass, processes and products.
  2. Development and testing of technology for a biobased industry.
  3. Technology transfer within Georgia and around the world—working with industries, government agencies and the community at large.
  4. Educational programming that provides unique, pertinent and comprehensive training and educational experiences—thus preparing the workforce of the 21st century biomass economy.
  5. Degree programs in varied disciplines including: Engineering, Forestry, Ecology, Biology, Biochemistry.

Our dependence on fossil oil is causing many undesirable effects in economic stability, civil security and climate sustainability; therefore, the world as a whole is actively seeking an alternate to the current non-renewable petroleum-based economy. A renewable carbon biomass-based economy is one important path away from fossil oil and toward sustainability.

In addition to the aspects of self-reliance, carbon-neutrality (environmental sustainability), and national security—pursuing a biomass-based economy is expected to revive rural economies and be an economic stimulant to the forestry and agriculture industries around the world.

Workers assembling the biorefinery in July 2004

The University of Georgia is positioned uniquely to play a major role in working to make the biomass-based economy a reality. Among its key strengths are [1] a world recognized, well connected Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, [2] a well integrated cooperative extension service that has over a century of experience working closely with agriculture, [3] a wide range of scientists and educators in the basic sciences and engineering, and [4] an excellent assemblage of graduate students training to be leaders in the biomass-based world economy.