The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have awarded $12.6m in funding to ten projects, which aim to improve plant feedstocks for bioenergy production.

Awarded under a joint DOE-USDA programme, which started in 2006 and aims to harness non-food plant biomass to manufacture fuels and chemicals, the research grants will focus on fundamental investigations of biomass genomics.

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"Biofuels and bio-based products offer the potential of homegrown American resources that can reduce our dependence on imported oil and also cut carbon emissions."

The research projects are located in the states of New York, Virginia, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, California, Minnesota, Missouri, and Michigan.

As part of the US Government’s broader effort to diversify the nation’s energy portfolio, the investment will accelerate development of new clean energy technologies, which aim to decrease dependence on foreign oil, while securing the future of energy needs and enhancing rural economies.

US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said: "Biofuels and bio-based products offer the potential of homegrown American resources that can reduce our dependence on imported oil and also cut carbon emissions.

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"This advanced research is helping us to lay the groundwork for biomass as an important part of the low-carbon future."

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The DOE’s Office of Science will offer $10.6m for eight projects, while the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will provide $2m to fund the remaining two.

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said: "Innovative research is a critical link to stimulating rural economies and creating jobs across America.

"These awards are part of the Obama Administration’s ‘all of the above’ energy policy. These projects will not only support our efforts to provide a sustainable and domestic energy source for the nation, but also improve the lives of rural residents."

The initial funding is expected to support research projects for up to three years.

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