Three scientists at The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation received a combined $1,225,152 from National Science Foundation (NSF) and state research funds through the Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to enable new research and look at evolving aspects of switchgrass as a potential bioenergy crop.

Switchgrass is a perennial grass that is naturally drought resistant and grows on marginal croplands. During the past two years, scientists, researchers and government officials in Oklahoma have sought to understand and implement a cellulosic ethanol industry in the state using switchgrass, which has higher energy output than corn as an ethanol feedstock and does not compete with human or animal food sources.

Noble Foundation officials said the NSF-EPSCoR grants complement its ongoing, publicly supported research in this area, including its work with Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma through the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center as well as its work as a key member of the Department of Energy's BioEnergy Science Center, led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Improving switchgrass and exploring the role of biofuels in tomorrow's agricultural sector is consistent with the Noble Foundation's ongoing mission to improve production agriculture within the state, country and the world.

"The Noble Foundation's focus is assisting farmers and ranchers," said Michael A. Cawley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Noble Foundation. "We achieve this mission through plant science research, forage improvement and agricultural programs. Our foray into biofuels aligns with our current efforts, because switchgrass holds the potential to be included in existing production agriculture systems which could infuse our rural economies with new production opportunities."

The three Noble Foundation scientists to receive state and federal funds through the NSF-EPSCoR program are:

• Kelly Craven, Ph.D., $251,931 (2008-2012). Craven will study the ability of endophytes to enhance switchgrass biomass, nitrogen content and drought tolerance. Endophytes are naturally occurring fungi that live between the cells of plants and form a symbiotic relationship, imparting desired characteristics such as drought tolerance, with their host plant.

• Kiran Mysore, Ph.D., $549,973 (2008-2013). Mysore will study naturally occurring disease resistance mechanisms against switchgrass pathogens with the intention of creating switchgrass varieties having a broad spectrum of disease resistance.

• Zengyu Wang, Ph.D., $423,248 (2009-2012). Wang will work with other researchers within the Noble Foundation to explore the ability to increase lignin content in switchgrass. Lignin is a substance that defines the cell walls of all plants. Complementing the Noble Foundation's low-lignin research, Wang's research could enable feedstocks, such as switchgrass, to be tailored to specific conversion processes. The goal is to create feedstocks that, when paired with a specific conversion process, maximizes potential ethanol production (i.e., ethanol per acre).

Oklahoma EPSCoR is funded through a five-year (FY 2008-2013), $6 million National Science Foundation Research Infrastructure Improvement Grant. The grant was matched by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education with an additional $3 million. Oklahoma EPSCoR's central goal is to increase the state's research competitiveness through strategic support of research instruments and facilities, research collaborations, and integrated education and research programs.

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News Release Issued: November 10, 2008

For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact J. Adam Calaway, Director of Public Relations, at 580.224.6209 or by email at jacalaway@noble.org.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.