Amid the rising demand for renewable energy from biobased materials, IT is essential to ensure that forests can be utilized efficiently to meet new raw material standards for advanced products

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Maine System $649,836 on May 1, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (CFDA 10.310).

The recipient, University of Maine at Fort Kent, will optimize woody biomass production across northeastern forest types and integrated management practices using long-term inventory plot data and Forest Inventory and Analysis data specific to the region. The project will assess economic feasibility through detailed time-motion studies, techno-economic analysis, and life-cycle analysis across the forest supply chain, then develop a low-cost and low-impact supply chain framework. Results will be communicated to stakeholders integrating economic and social insights to support informed decision-making that balances economic growth with other societal needs.

Performance runs through April 30, 2031, with work performed in Fort Kent, Maine. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

Hence, balancing the health of forest ecosystems with socio-economic needs is crucial as we navigate towards a biobased economy. Under the current scenario of increasing advanced technologies and shifting towards forest-based bioeconomy, a deeper understanding of the northeast US, characterized by its vast and diverse forest types and integrated management practices, is crucial. As markets and policies evolve, the costs associated with harvesting and transporting biomass will fluctuate. For instance, emerging markets could elevate the value of biogenic waste materials, thereby increasing demand for those products. The project aims to optimize woody biomass production across various forest types and integrated management practices utilizing long-term inventory plot data and forest inventory and analysis (FIA) data specific to northeastern states. The project will assess the economic feasibility as part of this optimization through detailed time-motion studies, techno-economic analysis (tea), and life-cycle analysis (LCA) across the forest supply chain. Based on these integrated methodology, we will develop a low-cost and low-impact supply chain framework. The results will be communicated with stakeholders integrating economic and social insights on such advances and innovative technologies to their attention. This understanding will support informed decision-making that balances economic growth with other social needs.