David Tilman

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A major step in that direction could come from growing prairie grasses and flowers that once covered this state. U of M ecology professor, David Tilman, is an expert in biodiversity — that is, coexistence among many species. His plan is simple. Grow and harvest a wide variety of native plants that can be burned or refined for fuel. Tilman and his University of Minnesota students have discovered that mixtures of different native prairie grasses can provide greater energy per acre than single plantings like corn, soybeans, or even switchgrass. Plus, the diversity of these plantings makes them less susceptible to yield fluctuations. Tilman's plantings require little or no fertilizer or pesticides. And because they are perennial, these plants will grow back year after year without replanting by a farmer. Harvesting is as simple as mowing the field. But the benefits don't stop there. Tilman says it's possible to burn prairie grass with coal and reduce carbon dioxide and mercury emitted into the atmosphere. Though lots of work remains, Tilman's discoveries are an exciting new chapter in the ever-changing biofuel story. "In Minnesota there are over a million acres of abandoned farmland in the Conservation Reserve Program," Tilman says. "That land is mainly planted with just a few grass species." It could become a major source of renewable energy.

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Hope for renewable energy is beneath our feet.
Listen to David Tilman's Jan. 11 Headliner lecture, in which he explains how native prairie grasses and other naturally-occurring plants provide more usable energy per acre than corn grain ethanol or soybean biodiesel — and why these prairie plants are far better for the environment.

U study says soy biodiesel gains are higher than corn ethanol.
A definitive study of ethanol derived from corn reveals the pros and cons compared with biodiesel fuel from soybeans and points the way toward new sources of renewable energy.

Natural prairie holds key to sustainable fuels.
Tilman says the best source of biomass fuels will be fields with diverse plant species.

Icon in ecology: Cedar Creek discoveries propel Tilman to prominence.
If David Tilman were a prairie plant, he might be Andropogon gerardi, the native grass known as Big Bluestem, because it uses its resources with exquisite efficiency.

Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Envrionment (IREE)
Learn more about the U's work to develop bio-based and other renewable resources and processes.