Iowa State is requesting approval to establish a new center to develop high value biobased products from agricultural feedstocks. The Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites would be in the Center for Crops Utilization Research and a National Science Foundation Industry and University Cooperative Research Center. The NSF would fund administrative costs and industry funds would support research.
The center, also known as CB2, is a collaborative effort between biocomposite and engineering research teams at Iowa State, University of Massachusetts Lowell and Washington State University, with Iowa State as the lead institution.
The center’s goal is to develop knowledge of agricultural feedstock products, such as plastics, coatings, adhesives and composites, that are compatible with current industrial manufacturing systems to promote sustainability.
David Grewell, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, will serve as director of the center if the board approves.
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