13 



lend themselves to very large-scale biomass farming in the future. 

 The potential is high. The potential for high yields and low costs is 

 what drives us in this direction, coupled with the scarcity of land 

 resources for growing, and competition for the fuel products. 



Our key thrust at this time is to fill the needs for information, 

 much more definitively than we have right now, about yields, 

 about costs, and those factors that go into determining the econom- 

 ic viability of a project. 



For instance, we know vastly more right now about growing corn 

 than we do algae. There is a need for research and development in 

 this area, to narrow the uncertainties, to identify new species, and 

 to establish levels of performance. 



Thank you. 



Mr. Studds. Thank you very much. I tried to listen to you and 

 follow your testimony at the same time, an exercise I did not do too 

 successfully. 



Your total fiscal funding is $58 million, is that correct? 



Mr. Adams. That is correct. 



Mr. Studds. What percentage goes to terrestrial and what per- 

 centage to aquatic biomass? You give us your little pie for 1979 

 here. 



Dr. San Martin. The plans at this time are about approximately 

 $6 million in 1980 will be devoted to aquatic biomass with $3.5 

 going to support marine biomass activities. 



Mr. Studds. $3.5 million? 



Dr. San Martin. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Studds. All of that, if I understand your testimony, goes to 

 GRI? 



On page 6 of your testimony, you say, "We plan to spend an 

 additional $3.5 million in fiscal year 1980 to obtain the information 

 necessary to verify biomass yield." 



Mr. Adams. Yes, sir, that is correct. 



Mr. Studds. The entirety of your budget is going to one project? 



Dr. San Martin. No, Mr. Chairman. 



The entirety of the research budget and aquatic biomass will 

 likely involve a dozen different major participants in the overall 

 program. It will be $3.5 million as we are directed by Congress, in 

 direct support of the GRI/GE marine work. Many of the other 

 programs that are looking at establishing some of the technical 

 facts concerning higher efficiency photosynthetic plant and conver- 

 sion processes are also applicable to work in both land base aquatic 

 systems and marine aquatic systems. 



Mr. Studds. Let me see if I can understand in layman's lan- 

 guage. 



Looking at figure 1 in your testimony, which is the biomass 

 breakdown for 1979, I want to see if I can put into English some of 

 the phrases that describe the various portions of the pie here; 17 

 percent goes to assessment and support. I assume that is adminis- 

 trative overhead? 



Mr. Adams. No, sir, those are marketing analyses, more on the 

 software side. 



Mr. Studds. What are the administrative costs in the biomass 

 budget for fiscal year 1979? 



