Mission

The Bioeconomy Institute (BEI) at Iowa State University seeks to advance the use of biorenewable resources for the production of chemicals, fuels, materials and energy. The Institute will assure Iowa’s prominence in the revolution that is changing the way society obtains its essential sources of energy and carbon. This revolution will dramatically reduce our dependence on petroleum. Instead of fossil sources of carbon and energy, the bioeconomy will use biomass (including lignocellulose, starches, oils and proteins) as a renewable resource to sustain economic growth and prosperity. Agriculture will supply renewable energy and carbon to the bioeconomy while engineering will transform these resources into transportation fuels, commodity chemicals, and electric power. This transformation, however, must be done in a manner that meets our present needs without compromising those of future generations.

The Institute will build upon a five-year initiative at ISU that has brought the university to national prominence in the field of biofuels and bioenergy. The establishment of the Institute will help assure ISU’s continued prominence in this rapidly advancing field.