Introduction to Agricultural and Biorenewable Products

Catalog description

This course provides an overview of the production, nature, and use of bioproducts, which are defined as products created from biologically derived, renewable industrial feedstocks. These materials are renewable and can be sustainably produced; as such, they will be increasingly used as society recognizes the opportunity cost of mining and using other non-renewable industrial feedstocks. The class focuses on evaluating biorenewable systems in the context of environmental impact, economics, and policy, as well as understanding where biorenewable resources come from and how they are produced. Students will engage with primary source material related to developing a circular economy in the US, including academic R&D reports and program plans from federal agencies such as EPA, USDA, and DOE.