Page 20 - Georgia Forestry - Spring 2017

investment, some of it centered on scaling up the Georgia-based center’s inventions for practical application.
“We’re very stubborn,” Kippelen says. “We want to see these things succeed so we try to build the value chain.”
It’s that spirit, and the growing aware- ness of nanocellulose and lignin, that makes it seem quite likely that the materials will become increasingly indis- pensable in industries from concrete to aeronautical and automotive engineering, from packaging to printable electronics.
This is due, in part, to the Renewable Bioproducts Institute’s emphasis not only on discovery, but also on training the next generation of green-minded engineers.
“The big picture for me,” says Reich- manis, “is this is an opportunity to work on a new technology that could really benefit a lot of people. But it’s also an opportunity to work with students and get them excited about technologies that are going to be more biocompatible and better for the environment and have them take that knowledge forward.”
When you think about it, such an investment is much like the ones made daily by forest landowners. They are, after all, in the business of planting seed- lings and waiting years or even decades for their value to be realized.
So perhaps the forestry community is one that’s best-suited for the watching, waiting and investing that can one day see nanocellulose and lignin revolutionize their industry.
SEEKING LANDOWNERS FOR PRIVATE LANDS PROGRAM
personal property owners – agricultural land – timber company – timber investment management organizations
If you are seeking a new way to utilize your land AND get paid for it or benefit otherwise, consider participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Voluntary Public Access/Habitat Incentive Program (VPA/HIP), coordinated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
This program allows landowners to benefit financially and receive habitat-related technical guidance and on-the-ground habitat management where appropriate by allowing public access to their lands for wildlife-related recreation.
How do you participate?
Print, complete and submit the application/bid sheet. Be sure to note submission deadline in order to be eligible to participate this year.
www.georgiawildlife.com/Hunting/Resources/VPAHIP
18 | GEORGIA FORESTRY
Nanocellulose research has a lot of potential, and here are some of the ways it might impact everyday items:
Cars: lighter body, increased fuel efficiency
Airplanes: stronger panels, less maintenance, saves money
Packaging: tracking and identification components embedded into packaging
Bridges: stronger and more lightweight concrete, less building material needed
Solar Cells: flexible solar cells on paper, cheaper and greener conversion of sunlight to electricity