Switchgrass Bales in East Tennessee (IMAGE) University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Caption Scientific advances regarding the conversion of agricultural crops into renewable sources of bioenergy while minimizing water consumption and environmental impact are among the research collaborations that may be included in a new transdisciplinary environmental research network. The effort will encompass sustainable use of natural resources for food, energy and water systems. UTIA and ORNL have a history of collaborative efforts regarding the production and conversion of environmentally friendly bioenergy crops such as switchgrass (shown above), which may also be used as a drought-tolerant forage for livestock. Credit Photo of switchgrass harvest in East Tennessee by P. McDaniels, courtesy UTIA. Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.