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Final Program

The Southern Grassroots Biofuels Project

An Informative Conversation on Emerging Technologies and Agricultural Resources

When – Thursday, August 4, 2016, Tennessee Tech, Cookeville, TN

Scope – A one-day activity expressly designed to share information about emerging technologies of interest to regional farming communities.

Objective – To provide information to regional farm owners, conservationists and other interested individuals on technologies that convert various forms of grown crops and agricultural waste into useful products such as energy, soil amendments, fuels and chemicals.

Who Should Attend – Farmers; Farm Owners; Conservationists; Researchers; Any Interested Individuals

Topics – Pyrolysis; Biodiesel; Chicken Litter Utilization

Sponsors – Tennessee Technological University (TTU) and the Center for Manufacturing Research (CMR), USDA/NCRC, and the National Science Foundation (NSF)

Organizers – Lachelle Norris (TTU), Joseph J. Biernacki (TTU), Jenny Adkins (USDA/NCRC), Denise Watkins (USDA/NCRC), Zach Williams (TTU)

Guests and Speakers –

Yetta Jager (ORNL, Bioemergy Technologies Program) – Environmental Sustainability and DOE/ORNL’s Role in Water Quality and Wildlife Biodiversity

Sam Weaver (President, Proton Power Inc.) – Biomass Pyrolysis: Powering a Clean Tomorrow

Sharon Berk (Middle Tennessee State University) – Biofuel from Brewery and Food Packaging Waste

Mark Hudson – Broiler Litter Pyrolysis-Pros and Cons

Timothy Rials (UTK, Director, Center for Renewable Carbon) – Growing Tennessee’s Bioeconomy: Fields, Forests, and Factories

Program –

7:00-8:00 am – Check In and Registration with Coffee, Fruit and Pastries

8:00-8:15 am – Welcome – Lachelle Norris and Joe Biernacki (TTU Hosts)

8:15-8:50 am – Growing Tennessee’s Bioeconomy: Fields, Forests, and Factories (Timothy Rials)

8:50-9:25 am –Environmental Sustainability and DOE/ORNS’s Role in Water Quality and Wildlife Biodiversity (Yetta Jager)

9:25-9:55 am – Break/Poster Session

9:55-10:30 am – Biomass Pyrolysis: A Grassroots Project in Middle Tennessee, Powering a Clean Tomorrow (Sam Weaver)

10:30-11:15 am – Broiler Litter Pyrolysis-Pros and Cons (Mark Hudson)

11:15-11:45 am – Biofuel from Brewery and Food Packaging Waste (Sharon Berk)

11:45 am-1:00 pm – Lunch Provided

1:00-1:15 pm – Instructions for Breakout Groups

1:15-3:30 pm – Group Work

3:30-4:30 – Group Reports

4:30-4:45 – Summary and Closing Remarks (Joe Biernacki)