The 2012 Sustainable Biofuels Award has been presented to DuPont for its Stover Harvest Collection Project.
The company has received the award in the sustainable feedstock innovation category at the 2012 World Biofuels Markets Congress exhibition, which was held from March 13 to 15 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The 2012 Sustainable Biofuels Award has been developed to honor advancements in the development of renewable and sustainable fuels.
DuPont Industrial Biosciences’ Stover Harvest Collection Project is a comprehensive research and development project that considerably advances the company’s initiatives to decrease reliance on fossil fuels and also progresses the cellulosic ethanol industry towards commercialization. Professionals in the agronomy field from DuPont and Iowa State University; producers of custom harvest equipment and over 50 local farmers are involved in the Stover Harvest Collection collaborative project. The project offers know-how on the sustainable collection, storage and transport of corn stover, a very common agricultural product that can be converted into biofuel. DuPont’s Stover Harvest Collection Project is now moving into the third year and aims to involve about 150 farmers and collect biomass, which will be utilized in the proposed biorefinery in Nevada, Iowa.
The company has identified that a consistent, sustainable biomass source is essential for the successful development of advanced biofuels, stated DuPont Industrial Biosciences’ President, Jim Collins. Collins added that their collaborative project, in which government, environmental organizations, scientist and growers are involved, ensures that they will be able to address the requirements of the growing market and create new opportunities for America’s rural sector.