The LSU AgCenter is engaged in a broad array of bioenergy/biofuels research and extension activities across Louisiana. With the goal of identifying and evaluating bioenergy production technologies and opportunities that can be economically feasible in Louisiana on a commercial scale, research activities of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station (LAES) are focused in two basic areas: (1) feedstock development and evaluation and (2) feedstock processing and bioenergy production. Research activities in feedstock development include evaluation of potential feedstock crops such as high-fiber sugarcane, sweet sorghum, switchgrass and sweet potatoes for ethanol production as well as a variety of oilseed crops and other feedstocks for biodiesel production. Feedstock processing and bioenergy production research covers a broad range of scientific investigation including gasification and cellulose conversion technologies. The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service (LCES) is responsible for bioenergy education and outreach programs to transfer research results and recommendations to agricultural producers, processors and other entities associated with Louisiana agriculture.

More than 25 LSU AgCenter faculty are involved in the various bioenergy/biofuels projects. For the project involving the energy potential of sweet sorghum, we have created a blog with photos so viewers can read about and actually view the fields in which this high-energy crop is being grown.

The greatest share of the LSU AgCenters projects on bioenergy are conducted at the W.A. Callegari Environmental Center in Baton Rouge and the Audubon Sugar Institute in St. Gabriel.

Read LSU AgCenter news releases and publications about bioenergy/biofuels projects. And find out about bioenergy projects at land-grant universities in other states at related links.