Grass2Gas: A USDA-NIFA Sustainable Agricultural Systems Project

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:
Iowa State University explores win-win potential of grass-powered energy production Iowa State University news article, July 2024
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
Publications for more information
Can manure application method and timing with cover crops reduce NH3 and N2O gas losses and sustain corn yield? Agronomy Journal, July 2024
Responses to Outstanding Stakeholder Questions: Supplemental Document to 2023 Grass2Gas Iowa, Pennsylvania, and National Workshop Proceedings Iowa State Digital Repository, June 2024
Cultivating Collaboration: Mid-project Summary for the Grass2Gas Project Iowa State University Digital Repository, April 2024
Measuring changes in financial and ecosystem 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.