The Midwest Conservation Biomass Alliance: a Cross-sector Coalition for Regional Coordination of Native Grassland Biomass Promotion for Multiple Benefits in Large Landscape Conservation

Native grassland biomass has the potential to 
simultaneously deliver renewable energy, bio-products, habitat, soil conservation,
 sequestration of nutrients and water, improved water quality, connectivity of 
protected lands, farmer income and economic development. A pathway toward the realization of these multiple benefits across large landscapes is through biomass-based commerce where native grassland establishment, growth, harvest and marketing are carefully planned and 
managed. However, grass-based 
bioenergy and bio-markets are experiencing market inertia due to technology scale-up issues, national policy, and fluctuating prices of agricultural commodities and non-renewable energy sources. A potentially transformative approach to overcome this market inertia is through cross-sectoral collaborative innovation and demonstration of solutions that reduce risk and uncertainty, boost bio-economic changes that enable greater landscape multi-functionality, and that benefit producers, consumers and conservation of natural resources alike. The Midwest Conservation Biomass Alliance (MCBA) is a public-private partnership of researchers, natural resource professionals, land managers, industry leaders, business interests and landowners promoting research, education, demonstration and commerce utilizing economic and ecological benefits derived from native grasslands. The MCBA’s mission is to discover and promote ecologically sound commerce activities and land-use practices using native grassland biomass to enhance and restore multiple benefits for people, land, water, and wildlife.  This presentation describes MCBA’s rationale and goals, it’s priority projects and activities, and the synergistic opportunities for partnering with peer organizations such as the Landscape Conservation Cooperatives.