THROUGH A STRONG ACADEMIA-INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP, AND AN INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION PROGRAM, THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO DEVELOP A RESILIENT BRASSICA CARINATA (CARINATA) BASED BIOFUEL AND BIOPRODUCT SUPPLY CHAIN IN THE SOUTHEAST: FROM FEEDSTOCK DEVELOPMENT TO DISTRIBUTION TO END USER. SPECIFICALLY WE WILL: 1) IDENTIFY AND DEPLOY REGIONALLY ADAPTED CARINATA GENOTYPES FOR MAXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY AND RESOURCE USE EFFICIENCY; ENHANCE PRODUCTION ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH IMPROVING CROPPING SYSTEM FIT OF CARINATA; 2) PROVIDE AN ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF CARINATA BASED FUEL AND COPRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION; 3) CREATE VALUE ALONG THE CARINATA SUPPLY CHAIN THROUGH RESEARCH AND ADDRESS STAKEHOLDER NEEDS BY AUDIENCE-APPROPRIATE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION, AND TRAINING. THE STRENGTH OF THE PROPOSAL LIES IN THE EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND DATA WE HAVE COLLECTED ON CARINATA AGRONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT, A PROVEN CONVERSION PROCESS FOR FUELDEVELOPMENT WITH CONSEQUENT INTEREST FROM MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL AVIATION SECTORS, AND DEMONSTRATED MARKET DEMAND FOR NUMEROUS FUEL COPRODUCTS AND BIOPRODUCTS FROM CARINATA SEED MEAL. RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION PROPOSED ON THIS GRANT WILL FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIALIZATION OF CARINATA IN THE SOUTHEAST IN CONJUNCTION WITH DEVELOPMENT OF A TRAINED WORKFORCE TO SUPPORT A CARINATA BASED BIOECONOMY IN THE REGION. TO ENSURE SUCCESS, WE WILL EVALUATE STRENGTH OF OBJECTIVES AND VALIDITY OF APPROACH THROUGH CONSTANT COMMUNICATION AND FEEDBACK AMONG THE ADVISORY BOARD, STAKEHOLDER AND PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS.