Mission:
The Bioenergy Research Unit (BER) conducts a broad-based program of microbial, biochemical, genetic, and fermentation engineering research that is international in scope and importance addressing national research needs for new environmentally acceptable agricultural practices and value-added products. The overall mission of the BER research program is to develop bioproducts and bioprocesses for conversion of agricultural commodities into biofuels and chemicals, enzymes, and polymers and to improve animal production systems. Bioenergy scientists have developed bioprocess and metabolic engineering technologies that expand biofuel feedstocks, discovered model biocatalysts for the production of new products from agricultural commodities, and add value to agricultural wastes.