A region encompassing twelve north central states has made its way into the national spotlight as the U.S. Congress considers federal farm policy that will help shift energy reliance from the Middle East to the Midwest.

Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin each have the potential the potential to produce up to two-thirds of the nation's perennial bioenergy crops and crop residues.

To help guide the transition of energy reliance from the Middle East to the Midwest and ensure coordinated policy and research, directors from 12 state departments of agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service and university agriculture experiment stations have formed the North Central Bioeconomy Consortium, which recently received a $100,000 grant from the Energy Foundation of San Francisco to coordinate regional public policy development and research for a renewable energy future.  A strategic partnership has been formed with the Great Plains Institute of Minneapolis to help coordinate, facilitate and implement the 12-state consortium agenda.

The consortium met for the first time in February to reach a memorandum of understanding for the three participating organizations.

"The long history of university extension offices working with local communities, producers, and business leaders to make sure state-of-the-art research goes to work in our farms, forests and local businesses helps guarantee that bioeconomy growth will benefit all," said Daryl Buchholz, associate director of Extension and Applied Research at Kansas State University.

The North Central Bioeconomy Consortium recently submitted summary work to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) documenting the region´s achievements and potential in leading the transition to greater use of bioenergy, biofuels and bioproducts.

"These are exciting and changing times for the north central region and the United States as we move toward greater renewable energy and fuels," said Sara Bergan, executive director of the Great Plains Institute. "This consortium provides our region the opportunity to develop the next generation of biofuel feedstocks and energy technologies while providing the research and policy tools necessary to ensure long-term sustainability and economic vitality."

The North Central Bioeconomy Consortium also recently agreed to collaborate with the Midwestern Governors Association on policy review and development for a proposed energy summit later this year.