Wood would eliminate food vs. fuel concern

In Sweden, there's no food vs. fuel debate surrounding the bioeconomy. The country has 69 million acres of forest land. Its forest products industry is enormous. Corn pales in comparison. When Sweden began looking for raw materials for its bioeconomy, wood was the logical choice.

Michigan has 19 million acres of forest land. While it's not as much as Sweden, the state's forests are the fifth largest in the country. Part of the reason the Michigan delegation is visiting Sweden is to learn how the Swedes manage their forests to keep them as productive and healthy as possible, so that all users—from industries connected to the bioeconomy to wildlife to campers and other recreational users—get what they need.

Making bioproducts from corn grain is an important first step in revving up Michigan's bioeconomy, but it's clear that woody biomass—the trunks, branches, leaves and stumps of trees—has a role to play in sustaining the bioeconomy for the state.

According to Ray Miller, manager of the Upper Peninsula Tree Improvement Center and MSU forestry research director for northern Michigan, understanding how Swedish forestry managers coordinate the needs of industry, wildlife and citizens will help shape a roadmap for Michigan's bioeconomy.

"We're also interested in the tree improvement research program in Sweden," he said. "How do the scientists handle intellectual property rights and marketing of new varieties?"

On Aug. 15 and 16, the Michigan visitors visited a paper mill, a wood palletizing heating/cooling/electric plant, a university plant research center that focused on trees, and a diversified biorefinery complex featuring about a dozen companies all making various products, including ethanol, chemicals and energy from woody biomass.

While not everything would be a perfect fit in Michigan, it's clear that many of Sweden's bioeconomy strategies and policies could be a model for the state.

"Sweden has been developing its bioeconomy for many years—one of the companies we visited was founded in 1985," said Steve Pueppke, director of the MSU Office of Biobased Technologies. "Michigan's bioeconomy is much younger. By partnering with their scientists and technology innovators, we may be able to speed up Michigan's transition from a petroleum based economy to one based on renewable resources."