Biofuels look likely in the long term to have to rely on progress in genetic engineering in order the achieve the sort of yields and energy performances necessary to make them sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Genetically modified plants are already being developed to improve the output of biofuels from first generation crops, while enzymes derived from genetic engineering are being used to process them. However, much of the current investment in biotechnology for biofuels is being channelled into the development of second generation technologies that will be used mainly to provide feedstock lignocellulose from crops, trees, organic waste and other sources of biomass.
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