Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

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Economic Feasibility of Biomass Feedstocks for Biofuel Production in NC

Graduate #92
Discipline: Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Subcategory: Social Sciences/Psychology/Economics

Kingsley Bonsu - North Carolina A&T State University

This study assessed the competitiveness of conventional and non-conventional biomass feedstocks in NC. The study also determined the spatial competitiveness of a given biomass feedstock in the Mountain, Piedmont and Coastal regions of North Carolina. Conventional biomass feedstocks selected for the study were soybeans and corn. Non-conventional biomass feedstocks selected for the study were switchgrass, sweet potatoes and wheat. Enterprise budgeting and break-even analyses were used to accomplish the objectives of the study. The results of the study indicated that among the conventional biomass feedstocks, soybean was more competitive and more profitable than corn. Sweet potato was found to be the most competitive and the most profitable among the non-conventional feedstocks as well as among the selected crops followed by soybeans, wheat, corn and switchgrass in the descending order. Thus, it is economically wise for farmers in NC to produce soybean and sweet potatoes since these two crops are the most profitable among the selected feedstocks. The results revealed that in the Mountain region of NC, it is not economically feasible for farmers to shift resources from corn into switchgrass and soybean productions but economically feasible for them to shift resources from corn into wheat production. The results also indicated that it is not economically feasible for farmers in the Coastal and Piedmont regions of NC to shift resources from soybeans into corn, switchgrass and sweet potatoes productions but economically feasible for farmers to shift resources from soybean into wheat production.

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Funder Acknowledgement(s): This study was supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant # HRD 1242152 awarded to the CREST (Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology) Bioenergy Center at North Carolina A&T State University.

Faculty Advisor: Lyubov Kurkalova, lakurkal@ncat.edu

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.