Summary

C-CHANGE: Grass2Gas is advancing research, education, and extension to support development of a new biobased value chain. The multi-institutional team is assessing ways in which perennials and winter crops can be used more widely as feedstock for anaerobic digestion. The novelty of the project lies in leveraging a successful business model based on the digestion of manure to encompass new agricultural feedstocks, more diverse products, and increased value throughout the supply chain. 

Download a one-page summary of the project here.

Just getting started? Check out these resources:

On-Farm Biogas System Opportunities: Increase Farm Sustainability with Biogas Production 
Penn State Extension webinar, March 2023

Understanding the Science of Biogas Production 
Penn State Extension webinar, April 2022

What is anaerobic digestion?  
Iowa Learning Farm infographic

Bioeconomy Solutions for the 21st Century 
Iowa Learning Farm webinar, December 2021

Publications for more information

Measuring changes in financial and ecosystems service outcomes with simulated grassland restoration in a Corn Belt watershed
Frontiers, August 2022

Redefining marginal land for bioenergy crop production
GCB Bioenergy, August 2022

Meeting global challenges with regenerative agriculture producing food and energy
Nature Sustainability, December 2021

See Table Below for More Publications

Media Highlights

Making fuel from prairie – and manure: Federal grant allows experts to test whether farmers can make money from producing renewable energy
Des Moines Register, September 2022

Pennsylvania panelists: ‘Can biogas production benefit your farm?’
Progressive Dairy, October 2021

Past and Future Events

In Depth

C-CHANGE is advancing research, education, and extension to support development of a new biobased value chain. This effort will examine production of renewable natural gas and associated bioproducts through the anaerobic digestion of herbaceous biomass combined with manure. The novelty of the project lies in leveraging a successful business model based on the digestion of manure to encompass new agricultural feedstocks, more diverse products, and increased value throughout the supply chain.

C-CHANGE provides integrated activities directed toward feedstock diversification, modulari­zation, process intensification, and stakeholder engagement to reduce supply chain risks, increase product value, and improve production, profitability, and sustainability. Our work is motivated by the pressing need to alleviate social, eco­nomic, and environmental concerns associated with current agricultural sys­tems, and to foster new economic development in rural America.

Find our funded USDA-NIFA Sustainable Agricultural Systems program grant proposal here (pdf).

Find proposal team members here. The team is actively adding faculty, staff, postdocs, and students for additional capacity and impact.