Straw from wheat and other crops can be fractionated and each of its major constituents—cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and extractives—can be converted into biochemicals or biomaterials. This presentation will address advances in our research on extraction, characterization and conversion of selected components of straw using green solvents, including supercritical carbon dioxide, ionic liquids, and pressurized low polarity water. Compositional profiles and concentrations structural carbohydrates, lignins, and micro-components in Canada Prairie Spring wheat, durum wheat, barley, oat, and triticale straw, and flax shives, have been determined and will be presented.