Person's hand touching delicate plant sprouts.

Center for Biorenewables

Building a greener future through innovation and education relating to biorenewable food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, materials, and energy

Plants have sustained human societies for millennia, providing food, clothing, shelter, warmth, and a diverse array of compounds that support human health. Through photosynthesis and an extensive range of biosynthetic pathways, plants function as natural chemical factories, generating energy-rich and structurally diverse biomolecules.

The Center for Biorenewables brings together Penn State’s expertise in plant biology, genomics, microbiology, chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, bioengineering, and related disciplines to advance discoveries that enable plants to meet current and future societal needs sustainably.

The Center is jointly funded by the Penn State Institutes for Energy and the Environment and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.

Academics

Empowering students through interdisciplinary training, research, and leadership in science

Connections

The Center engages with the broader community through participation in major outreach events that highlight advances in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and bio-based innovation.

Member Resources

These resources enable researchers to accelerate discovery, strengthen collaboration, and translate fundamental science into practical solutions in bioenergy, biomaterials, and renewable biological production systems.

Huck Core Facilities

The Huck Institutes are committed to advancing research through cutting‑edge technology, with substantial ongoing investment in state‑of‑the‑art core facilities