Plant-based technologies that reduce carbon intensity of consumer products

AUTOMOTIVE

CONSTRUCTION

PACKAGING

Imagine a future where locally grown grasses are converted into useful products. It is a future where plant-based technologies can help reduce the carbon intensity of manufacturing and product use. It is a future where products don’t end up in landfills.

Our use-inspired research, development, and commercialization work is helping make this future vision a reality today! By building an interactive ecosystem of research organizations, industry partners, and community stakeholders, Greening the Southeast is the go-to resource for use-inspired research and technology commercialization. Our goal is to facilitate a faster path for commercializing new plant-based technologies in the region and to build a diverse agriscience workforce that can help revive our rural economies.

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WHAT IS THE INNOVATION ENGINE?

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Engines program seeks to support multiple flourishing regional innovation ecosystems across the U.S., spurring economic growth in regions that have not seen significant impacts of recent technology booms. The program supports up to 10 years and $160 million in funding for awarded Engines.

The program seeks to boost innovation capacity within the region of service of each Engine, create sustainable innovation ecosystems, and demonstrate inclusive economic growth with new technologies and systems.

Our Goal is to create a green, circular bioeconomy for the construction materials, automotive and packaging industries in the Southeast. Our core region of service includes Tennessee and Alabama, with extended impacts in Georgia and North Carolina. Our partners and activities extend well beyond across the entire southeastern region.

Our mission is to engage growers, communities, academia, government, nonprofits and business leaders to generate a concentration of research, training, and supply that attracts and grows sustainable material industries to the South. Our aim is to reduce the carbon intensity of everyday products and eliminate industry reliance on petroleum-based plastics through the use of sustainable agricultural fibers.

Impact Title

The southeastern United States is positioned to make this project a success because of our significant resources in underutilized farm- able land, research in plant genomics and breeding, multiple groups engineering novel sustainable biomaterials, startup incubators, a mission to revitalize rural economies, and educational partners to train and inspire the future workforce.

OUTCOMES AND BROADER IMPACTS

The GSE Engine’s blueprint is designed to harness the collective power of regional resources, invigorate local economies, and address global environmental concerns. By fostering a robust bioeconomy in Alabama (AL) and Tennessee (TN), GSE will achieve the following goals:

  • Strengthen our region by diversifying farmers’ income sources through the cultivation of perennial grass crops (miscanthus and switchgrass) that will be customized for industry needs
  • Provide industries with renewable materials that meet modern sustainability standards without compromising on performance or affordability, satisfying an ever-growing consumer base that prioritizes eco-friendly products with reduced carbon footprints
  • Develop, expand, and support robust commercialization pathways for biobased products, including entrepreneurial opportunities
  • Implement educational initiatives to enhance workforce skills in sustainable manufacturing processes within our Region of Service
  • Diversify educational, scientific, and entrepreneurial training activities across theEngine to support a more inclusive workforce

The success of our Engine will generate significant positive impacts to the region, including:

Greening the Southeast