(1) “Ag Fiber Technology” means a unique public/private sector coalition organized by Agro-Tech Communications of Memphis, Tennessee and based at Agricenter International in Memphis, Tennessee. Ag Fiber Technology is comprised of environmental organizations, universities, research institutions, and private corporations that share the goal of advancing biobased products through the commercialization of agricultural fibers;

(2) “Agricultural biomass” means crop residues from commodity crops such as wheat, corn, cotton and new crops such as switchgrass. “Agricultural biomass” has unique and strategic positioning in expanding markets for power, fuel and chemicals;

(3) “Agricultural fiber” means any fiber material derived from an agricultural crop including, but not limited to, corn stover, cotton, kenaf, rice straw, switchgrass, and wheat straw. Agricultural fibers are the building blocks of biobased products and contain cellulose, lignocellulose and other properties desired by industry;

(4) “Bast fiber crop” means crops such as kenaf that are comprised of an outer fiber “bast” and an inner fiber “core” or “hurd”. Bast fiber crops are utilized in new markets including building materials, pulp and paper, and absorbency products;

(5) “Biobased product” means a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that utilizes biological products or renewable domestic agricultural (plant, animal, and marine) or forestry materials. “Biobased product” includes building products, chemicals, fuels, lubricants, plastics, and paper derived from agricultural materials;

(6) “Bioenergy initiative” means a national partnership coordinated by the United States department of energy to develop an integrated industry to produce power, fuel and chemicals from sources including agricultural biomass; and

(7) “Industrial utilization” means the products and processes that utilize agricultural materials in non-food, non-feed commercial products. Industrial utilization projects in the United States have included a thirty-five million dollar ($35,000,000) kenaf auto component facility in Indiana; building materials from wheat straw in Idaho and North Dakota; and the expanded use of ethanol in the mid-west.