American bioeconomy expert visits AFBI

Dr Jill Euken, Deputy Director of the Bioeconomy Institute at Iowa State University has visited the Environment and Renewable Energy Centre at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Hillsborough, Co. Down.

Dr. Euken was in Northern Ireland as part of a return visit arising from a 2013 Boston College Center for Irish Programs course that focussed on renewable energies in agriculture.  AFBI’s Dr Alistair McCracken was one of nine participants from Ireland, North and South, on the Boston College course.  

The State of Iowa is important for the production of ethanol from corn and the Bioeconomy Institute at Iowa State University seeks to advance the use of biorenewable resources for the production of chemicals, fuels, materials and energy.  

It supports the supply of renewable energy and carbon reduction by agriculture to the bioeconomic and the application of engineering to transform these resources into transportation fuels, commodity chemicals, and electric power.  Dr Euken leads new programme development, industrial collaborations, outreach programmes, and project management for the university and is involved in an initiative for a Carbon Negative Economy.

While at AFBI Dr Euken described the huge financial benefits the ethanol industry has brought to the state of Iowa, the controversial food versus fuel debate and the concerns of those who believe that the developing ethanol industry is damaging the environment.

Dr Euken and her husband Randy, who accompanied her on the visit to AFBI, own and operate a family farming business in Southwest Iowa where they grow 2000 acres of corn, soybeans, and alfalfa, and feed cattle.
 

Notes to editors: 

AFBI carries out high quality technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DARD and other Government departments, public bodies and commercial companies. 

AFBI's Vision is “Scientific excellence in Northern Ireland …  serving the world”.

All media enquiries to AFBI Press Office 

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