Chevron Corp. and the Texas AM Agriculture and Engineering BioEnergy Alliance have entered a research agreement to accelerate the production and conversion of crops for manufacturing ethanol and other biofuels from

cellulose.

Chevron unit Chevron Technology Ventures will support research initiatives over a four-year period through the Texas AM BioEnergy Alliance, a formal partnership combining the Texas AM University System’s two premier research agencies in agriculture and engineering–the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES) and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES).

“Chevron believes that biofuels will fill an important role in diversifying the nation’s energy sources by providing a source of low-carbon transportation fuel,” said Don Paul, vice president and chief technology officer, Chevron Corp.