Bioenergy development is rapidly evolving in Kansas with the potential to
change the dynamics of agriculture and trigger significant social, cultural, economic and environmental
impacts in rural areas of the state. Presently, there is little empirical knowledge about the social, cultural
and economic impacts of biofuels development on rural communities in the Midwest. With a new
initiative in KCARE on bioenergy development and water, several new faculty members in rural
sociology, a strong agricultural economics department, and our new Center for Engagement and
Community Development, K-State is well positioned to address this crucial emerging issue. This project
will lay the groundwork for related K-State bioenergy projects and support our leadership on these critical
issues. Science-based decision-making regarding bioenergy development requires an understanding of
socioeconomic and related impacts (demographic, social, economic, and cultural changes, infrastructure
/services, water use for production / processing, land management, land ownership, environmental
impacts, food versus bio-feedstock production, target-group impacts, etc.) as well as an understanding of
the decision making process (primary decision-makers, incentives to industry, local stakeholder
involvement, strategies to address conflicting environmental, economic and societal values, etc). The
goal of this pilot project is to provide a better understanding of the socioeconomic and cultural
implications of biofuels development for rural communities, and to contribute to more informed policy
development regarding bioenergy.
Research outputs. 1) a tested survey design which can be used as a boiler plate to study other locations
in future projects; 2) a report of findings from a multifaceted study of one community’s experience with
ethanol development as a first key to understanding this issue, and groundwork for future study; 3) an
informational website with the research findings.
Extension outputs. 1) a summary of preliminary findings and a draft decision framework to help
communities understand the decision process regarding bioenergy development; 2) a workshop for
extension and agency representatives; 3) improved understanding of this issue through the extension
network and improved extension services to help communities with future decision-making.
This pilot project will establish our team as leaders in this issue and
position us to be more competitive for extramural funding for research to: 1) understand how the growth
of biofuel production has affected and will affect midwestern farmers and rural communities in terms of
social, cultural, economic, and demographic impacts; and 2) determine how state agencies, groundwater
management districts, local governments and policy makers evaluate or manage bioenergy development
in relation to competing demands for economic growth, diminishing water resources, and social
considerations.
This pilot project also laid the groundwork for another research project supported by the Department of Energy. You can read about that project here.