Technical Abstract: Grasses and legumes are the foundation of ruminant animal agriculture, but over the last 50 years the use of forages has declined in the developed world, largely due to their displacement by high-energy grain feedstuffs. Keeping forages on the landscape to take advantage of their many environmental benefits will require the development of new markets for forages. While the developing cellulosic ethanol industry can potentially divert large amounts of forages to the production of fuel ethanol, there are a number of other potential uses for forages that can enhance the profitability of forage cultivation. These include use of forages in structural building materials, engineered composites, and as sources for textile fibers, pulp and paper, commodity chemicals and specialty chemicals, including enzymes, nutraceuticals, functional foods, and medicinal foods.