image: Nicole Labbé, professor and director of the UT Center for Renewable Carbon in the UT Institute of Agriculture, conducts research in her lab at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Credit: University of Tennessee
On Sept. 18, the National Science Foundation announced that the BRIDGES proposal developed by HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in collaboration with University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Auburn University, had reached the final stage of competition in the Regional Innovations Engines Program and remains under consideration for an award totaling up to $160 million.
BRIDGES — which stands for Biobased Rural Innovation for Domestic Growth and Economic Security — models a shift in the regional economy that benefits industry, farmers and consumers by eliminating industry reliance on petroleum. BRIDGES scientists will focus on developing a circular bioeconomy in the southeastern United States by converting perennial agricultural grass crops into consumer goods in the packaging, automotive and construction materials industries.
“The NSF Engines program creates economic and technological opportunities in regions across the country, and BRIDGES is a visionary project that can lead to transformational impact,” said UT Chancellor Donde Plowman. “We celebrate the team’s advancement to the next stage of competition and the potential for innovation-based economic development in Tennessee and beyond.”
New discoveries lead to new jobs
Nicole Labbé, professor and director of the UT Center for Renewable Carbon in the UT Institute of Agriculture and one of the co-principal investigators for BRIDGES, said the innovation engine will address key technical hurdles in matching the needs of industry and regional farmers.
“The goal is to create manufactured products and chemicals using locally grown grasses,” she said. These grasses are often grown on underused and marginal lands, so the initiative will create new markets for farmers. Additionally, the focus on deconstructing plant materials and developing components for the automotive industry will produce needed products while developing the region’s workforce.
“As our research advances, the creation of a circular bioeconomy will provide rural communities with access to high-paying jobs and support workers who are interested in expanding their skills,” Labbé added. “UT and our BRIDGES partners are working with manufacturers to address workforce development and training needs.”
In addition to HudsonAlpha and co-leads UT and Auburn, the BRIDGES team includes other research institutions, industry leaders, educators, and economists, each bringing their unique expertise to the effort.
“UT is excited to work with HudsonAlpha and Auburn University on this endeavor,” said Keith Carver, senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of UTIA. “The research, teaching and outreach mission of UT and Auburn, both land-grant universities, aligns perfectly with the goals of the economic engine. Together we can make this a positive and innovative change for the region.”