Stewardship in the BioEconomy: An Iowa Market-Based Model

This 3-year project will develop, test, and implement a model program that allows existing and emerging biomass industries to offer an environmentally sound market-based pricing and procuring program for biomass with local farmers. It will demonstrate on-farm market-acceptable production and harvest practices and approaches that allow sustainable and profitable biomass production The project will identify emerging needs of Technical Service Providers and educators and provide targeted training for skill development and education for use in future conservation planning. This project will deliver successful tools and approaches of market-based pricing and procuring to five biomass industries, train conservation planners, educate more than 2,500 farmers in Iowa, and deliver successful program components to 4 Midwestern States.