Genetic engineering could cut the cost of biofuels

摘要

Plant engineering could play a major role in reducing the cost of biofuel production from food crop wastes such as rice straw or from non-food crops such as willow and poplar, a recent survey (1) highlighted by the European Commission's DG Environment last week has suggested. The study's author says that biofuels, mostly in the form of ethanol generated from corn grain or sugar cane, have the potential to reduce political instability and the environmental impacts that come with reliance on oil. The US government and some commercial organisations are actively promoting and funding research into new sources of energy, which include biofuels.