MADISON, Wis. -- Across the U.S. there's about 30 million acres of land that's been cultivated but abandoned since the 1980s. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison now know where they are, to start planting crops that combat climate change.

For the first time, a research team with the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center has created a map, called the GLBRC Atlas that shows abandoned croplands, where they are, how long they've been abandoned, and more.

"These abandoned farmlands or formerly croplands could really possibly strike that sweet spot in the middle where we're not competing with food production, and where we also can even sometimes have positive benefits of biodiversity," said Tyler Lark, one of the Research Scientists.

The idea is to find areas suited for energy crops that are low-cost, low-maintenance, rapid turnover crops that can be used for feed, biofuel, and other resources.