Proc., BIOENERGY '96 - The Seventh National Bioenergy Conference: Partnerships to Develop and Apply Biomass Technologies, September 15-20, 1996, Nashville, Tennessee.
More than twenty-five organizations can be identified in the U.S. and Canada that have research plantings of 20 ha in size or greater of short-rotation woody crops and most of those are well-established forest products companies. In 1990, only 9 forest products companies had commercial or substantial research plantings of short-rotation woody crops. The recent harvest and use of hybrid poplars for pulp and paper production in the Pacific Northwest has clearly stimulated interest in the use of genetically superior hybrid poplar clones across North America. Industry and government supported research cooperatives have been formed to develop sophisticated techniques for producing genetically superior hybrid poplars and willows suited for a variety of locations in the U.S. While the primary use of commercially planted short-rotation woody crops is for pulp and paper, energy is a co-product in most situations. A document defining a year 2020 technology vision for America's forest, wood and paper industry affirms that "biomass will be used not only for building materials and paper and paperboard products, but also increasingly for steam, power, and liquid fuel production." To accomplish the goals of "Agenda 2020" a new collaborative research effort on sustainable forestry has been initiated by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA). Both the new and old collaborative efforts are focusing on achieving substantial and sustainable gains in U.S. wood production for both energy and traditional wood products. AF&PA and DOE hope that industry and government partnerships addressing the competitiveness and energy effeciency of U.S. industries, can serve as a model for future research efforts.
Keywords: SRWC, commercialization, sustainable forestry, Agenda 2020
World demand for wood fiber for traditional wood products is increasing siginificantly as global population increases and as developing economies increase their use of wood and paper products. At the same time the amount of industrial wood available from public forests is becoming more limited as new unique forest habitats and scenic vistas are preserved, and recreational opportunities are increased. Privately owned industrial plantations already supply much of the pulp fiber produced in the U.S. Strong competition in the pulp and paper industry is emerging in tropical countries capable of producing high-yield eucalyptus and pine fiber. If the 547 pulp and paper mills currently operating in the U.S. are to remain internationally competitive, the mills must become more energy efficient, new methods must be found for producing greater amounts of wood on less land and these intensive wood production methods must meet rigorous environmental standards to gain international acceptance. (Arnold, 1995; AF&PA, 1994). Emerging energy industries will need the same technology. Both energy and forest products industries share an interest in producing wood in a way that integrates the growing, nurturing and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air, water quality, wildlife and fish habitat, and aesthetics (AF&PA, 1994).
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been heavily involved in research to develop methods for increasing the production of wood for both energy and fiber uses for the past 17 years. Most of the work has been conducted as a part of the Department of Energy, Office of Transportation Technologies' Biofuels Feedstock Development Program (BFDP) with the goal of developing and demonstrating environmentally acceptable and commercially viable woody crop supply systems suitable for substantially increasing the wood supply in the U.S. This research effort has been conducted collaboratively with the U.S. Forest Service, universities, consultants, and industry cooperatives since the program's initiation. Significant contributions of the program include genetically improved plant materials, improved understanding of physiological responses of hardwood trees, site-specific and generic information on intensive wood production methods, and the training of students, researchers, and forestry professionals.
In 1990, only 9 private companies in North America were planting Short Rotation Woody Crops (SRWC) at a scale of more than 100 ha (247 acres) and of those only 4 were successful enough to continue expanding their operation. These commercial ventures together with several other smaller SRWC scale-up efforts were described by Wright (1990). After 1990, private sector investment in SRWC technology in the U.S. began to increase more rapidly. By 1995, approximately 12 private companies were involved in scaling up SRWC plantings for commercial objectives (Wright, 1995) and a total of about 36,247 ha (89,500 acres) was estimated to be under active management. Several companies evaluating the concept in 1995 have begun to establish plantings, totaling at least 25 groups with research or commercial plots.
A survey conducted this year by the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) indicates that 47,618 ha (117,575 acres) is being operated just by forest products companies (Table 1). If the land planted to SRWC as part of federal research programs and SRWC plantings in eastern Canada are included, the total amount of land in SRWC in North America equals about 52,002 ha (128,400 ac). Compared with the amount of land under management in 1995, 15,755 incremental ha (38,930 acres) has come into production in just one year. This includes 10-20 year plantings which are in the process of being converted to shorter rotations (about half) and new plantings. The added land in the Southeast includes some pine plantings that are being managed more intensively. The 1996 survey suggests that current plans include a doubling of acreage planted through 1997 followed by a stable level. This may not take into consideration those companies just now beginning to test SRWC in their region who probably will not be making decisions about scale-up until 1997 or 1998. If those tests are successful, acreage could be tripled or quadrupled by the year 2000.
| Table 1. Land in Short Rotation Woody Crops in North America in hectares (acres)a. | |||
| REGION | Fiber Industryb 1996 |
Other 1996 |
Fiber and Otherc 2006 |
| Pacific Northwest | 26,932 (66,500) | 34,222 (84,500) | |
| Southeast | 20,280 (50,075) | 40,500 (100,000)++ | |
| North Central | 405 (1,000)d | 1,093 (2,700) | 2,430 (6,000)++ |
| Northeast | 0 | 2,997 (7,400) | 8,100 (20,000)+ |
| Hawaii | 0 | 294 (725) | 10,000 (24,700) |
| Total | 47,618 (117,575) | 4,384 (10,825) | 90,231 (222,800) |
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aConversions between hectares and acres in table are rounded approximations of 1 ha=2.47 acres. bSRWC land owned or operated by U.S. Forest Products Companies only cNumbers represent disclosed plans; ++ symbols represent areas where considerable uncertainty exists regarding future plantings; the northeast numbers are very contingent on biomass power utilization of willow; indications are that land in SRWC in 2006 could total 40,500 hectares (100,000 acres) more than indicated in the table. dTest plots/pre-commercial plots. |
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The pathway from research to commercialization for SRWC has been relatively rapid in the Pacific Northwest. Very limited research results from black cottonwood plantings were published in the mid-70's. DOE support of hybrid poplar research began in 1978 at the University of Washington. By 1982, Crown Zellerbach Corporation was already establishing their own stoolbed of University of Washington hybrid poplar clones and beginning scale-up trials of 100 ha or more. By 1986, James River Corporation (formerly Crown Zellerbach) was planting at the rate of 500 to 1000 ha per year. By the time Boise Cascade and Potlatch began SRWC projects, (1991 and 1994, respectively) they were able to begin planting at a rate of 1000 or more ha per year within a year or two of initiating the project. In 1996, 8-10 companies are adding SRWC at a rate of about 2000 to 4000 ha/yr (in total).
Factors facilitating the current expansion include, a solid research base, good communication between research and private sector groups, successful demonstrations, the emergence of new private nursery capability that can be relied upon to provide high quality planting stock and perhaps most importantly, continued favorable market conditions for the wood in the region. This market condition (higher prices for wood chips) has been created by the reduction in wood harvesting from public lands.
The pathway from research to commercialization for SRWC has been slower in the North Central region of the U.S. Research on SRWC also began in the region in the mid-70's with USDA Forest Service trials. DOE also became a supporter of the work in the late 70's. DOE research trials lead to a 100 ha scale-up effort and several 4 ha regional clone-site trials on farmland starting in 1987. The 100 ha site failed due to drought conditions in 1987 and 1988 but the clone-site trials provided valuable information on the variability of clonal responses within the region. Scale-up is now occurring again with the involvement of several groups. DOE, the Electric Power Research Institute, the Minnesota State Department of Natural Resources, and a local Resource Conservation District (of USDA) are supporting the establishment and management of 800 ha (2000 acres) of hybrid poplars on land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Additionally Minnesota Power Company has contracted with farmers to establish 1200 ha (3000 acres) of hybrid poplars specifically as a fuel for electricity generation. Several pulp and paper companies in the region are taking an interest and some have begun to purchase land for possible future plantings.
The South is actually experiencing a second wave of commercialization of SRWC technology even though the first wave in the mid-70's and early 80's was not overly successful. Most people trace SRWC concepts back to early studies conducted with sycamore in the Southeast in the mid to late 60's. The USDA Forest Service in the South supported cottonwood and eucalyptus genetic selection and improvement in the 70's but phased out the work in the mid 80's. Several companies established plantations of sycamore or sweetgum during the late 70's and early 80's and those comprise most of the Southeast acreage shown in Table 1. In previous surveys (Wright, 1990 & 1995) a large part of those acreages were not considered to be SRWC. However, in the current survey they are included since companies are intensifying management as they harvest and replant. One early success was the eastern cottonwood plantations in the Mississippi delta area which James River Corporation (now Crown Vantage) began establishing around 1982. Several companies in the South are evaluating considerably more intensive SRWC managment techniques, including irrigation as well as weed control, fertilization, and new clones (Land et al., 1996). The southern genetic improvement efforts have greatly benefited from the genetic understanding of poplars gained in the Pacific Northwest and, as a result, the pathway from research to commercialization may be shortened.
The commercialization of hybrid poplar clones developed with DOE/ORNL funding in the Pacific Northwest is viewed as evidence of a successful DOE/ORNL program effort. Between 1978 and 1995, DOE/ORNL invested $2 million in hybrid poplar research in the Pacific Northwest. As of 1995 private companies had planted 10,100 ha (25,000 acres). The industry investment in commercializing hybrid poplars (including harvest and chipping costs not yet expended and R&D costs) is estimated to be in the range of $50 - $100 million. The commercial plantings made between 1982 and 1995 are expected to collectively produce between 1 to 1.5 million dry tons of wood by first harvest (5-7 years after planting). This could have an open market value, as pulp, of 2 to 4 times all research and commercialization investments combined. Perhaps more importantly, at least two pulp and paper mills are depending on this added wood resource. Another success indicator is that two industry supported hybrid poplar research cooperatives have been initiated in the Pacific Northwest. Members are providing about $600,000 per year of monetary support plus significant in-kind contributions of land, equipment, personnel, and expertise to support contined hybrid poplar development by the two cooperatives.
The Tree Genetic Engineering Research Cooperative (TGERC), centered in the Department of Forest Science at Oregon State University, began in 1994 with seed money provided by DOE/ORNL and a requirement to obtain industrial cost-share. The goal of TGERC is to provide research, technology transfer, and education to facilitate use of genetically engineered trees in plantation culture. The initial focus of the TGERC will be on genetic engineering of poplars, though future work may include other species. The objectives of TGERC include gene identification, gene transfer, trait expression, production systems, and biological safety. By the end of 1995, TGERC had 13 regular members (Oregon State University, DOE/ORNL, 10 forest products companies, and the Electric Power Research Institute), and 6 associate members.
The Plant Molecular Genetics Cooperative (PGMC), instituted at the University of Washington in March 1995, was an outgrowth of the many years of successful hybrid poplar genetics research funded by DOE/ORNL at the University of Washington. The goals of the Cooperative are to: (1) increase understanding of the molecular genetic mechanisms causing variation in productivity and quality traits in hybrid poplar and (2) use research results to accelerate progress in poplar breeding. By the end of 1995, the Coop had 11 industry members, 2 government agency members (including DOE/ORNL) and 2 university members.
Poplar crop development in the Southeastern U.S. is being heavily supported by industry although no formal cooperatives have been initiated at this time. Nine different forest products companies plus three universities, ORNL, and the U.S. Forest Service are all involved as cooperators in planning and executing a project initiated in 1995. The goal of the project is primarily to develop and test new poplar clones for immediate commercial use in the southeast. The project also intends to develop pedigreed plant material that can be used to answer a number of basic questions about the genetic traits and physiology of Populus deltoides.
The Minnesota Hybrid Poplar Consortia was officially formed in spring 1996 by hybrid poplar investigators affiliated with the University of Minnesota. Four pulp and paper companies are directly supporting the research cooperative with the U.S. Forest Service and ORNL as affiliated members. Research goals involve optimizing silvicultural techniques for establishing hybrid poplars on Northern Minnesota soils and to accelerate genetic improvement of hybrid poplars for the Northern Minnesota region.
The North Central Populus Research Consortium is an ad-hoc group organized and led by ORNL for many years. At least one meeting is held per year with the purpose of coordinating research efforts among all groups participating in Populus research in the region. The meetings have also served to keeping interested energy and forest products companies in the region informed of the progress of the research.
The American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) released a document in November 1994 which clearly and boldly defines the technology vision for the year 2020 of the U.S. Forest, Wood and Paper Industry (AF&PA, 1994). The Agenda 2020 document is providing the basis for a collaborative effort between government and industry on a wide range of technology-related gaps that must be addressed to achieve a globally competitive and sustainable industry in the year 2020. Because trees are the major raw material for the industry, Agenda 2020 has a strong emphasis on sustainable forestry. The document states that "Genetic technology and other forest science advances (e.g., gene identification and modification) are expected to enable the growing and harvesting of substantially increased quantities of wood from available land resources, potentially more than doubling current yields per acre." The industry expects to accomplish this through genetic selection, bio- engineering, use of marginal cropland for tree production and sustainable forest management.
DOE's Office of Industrial Technologies (DOE/OIT) and AF&PA are collaborating in the establishment of a vehicle for selecting and funding high-quality research performed by DOE laboratory scientists, university subcontractors, and other agency forestry scientists. The AF&PA Forest Resources Research Committee established the overall research focus of the Sustainable Forestry component of Agenda 2020 of "promoting research to achieve substantial and sustainable gains in U.S. forest productivity." The following criteria for setting research priorities and selecting proposals were established: (1) research should support significant gains in forest productivity, (2) research should be pre-competitive, (3) results should be broadly applicable within the industry, and (4) results should enhance competitiveness of U.S. industry. Within those guidelines four focus areas were established including: (1) Biotechnology, (2) Basic Physiology of Forest Productivity, (3) Sustainable Soil Productivity, and (4) Remote Sensing Technologies to Improve Forest Inventory and Stand Management. Research pathways were developed for each focus area. Proposals were solicited from all DOE laboratories with experience relevant to the focus areas listed above. Direct industry participation in the research was strongly encouraged.
Six projects were recommended by the AF&PA to DOE/OIT for funding in 1996. Three of the projects had a strong emphasis on improving forest productivity through developing a better understanding of biotechnology and/or tree physiology. These projects proposed to investigate the genetic control of wood property traits, the biochemical and genetic control of tree shape (affecting stockability), and carbohydrate regulation. Two projects focused on sustainability with one analyzing soils limitations to forest productivity and the other evaluating the effects of high intensity forestry on water quality. The sixth project proposed to improve remote sensing technologies for forest stand improvement.
ORNL scientists and collaborators are involved in 4 of the 6 projects recommended for funding. ORNL access to existing SRWC research studies nationwide, as well as the forestry and environmental expertise at ORNL, were combined to develop pre-competitive, scientifically sophisticated studies that supported the goals of Agenda 2020. All of ORNL's proposals included collaborations with one or more universities as well as participation by specific companies. Other government agencies such as the Tennessee Valley Authority and the U.S. Forest Service were important cost-sharing partners in the ORNL projects.
AF&PA, in collaboration with the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI), is moving forward with Agenda 2020 implementation in 1997 by soliciting pre- proposals for possible funding. The solicitation has been forwarded to each of the forestry schools and colleges in the U.S., the Forest Service, and other private research institutions. Pre-proposals that are received by early Fall, 1996 will be screened and fifteen will be selected for more detailed development and possible funding in early 1997. AF&PA hope that as many collaborators as possible will come together to submit proposals and that the Agenda 2020 process can be an important vehicle for promoting more collaboration by forestry research institutions in a Centers of Excellence approach. AF&PA also hope that more forest products companies will see real value in the specific research projects and will bring more financial and in-kind resources to bear on Agenda 2020 research projects.
The sustainable forestry component of the Agenda 2020 initiated by DOE/OIT and AF&PA has several goals that can be addressed by building on woody crop research being funded by DOE's Office of Transportation Technology at ORNL. The new Agenda 2020 research will fill important information gaps identified by the forest products industry. ORNL can facilitate accomplishment of Agenda 2020 goals by leveraging our ongoing SRWC research, our connections with several forest products companies and the USDA Forest Service, and our linkages with many universities across the U.S. The knowledge gained through these collaborative efforts will benefit all potential users of wood products.