Biofuel crops

Crops used for the production of biofuels. At present, food crops like maize, rapeseed, canola and soybeans are used for the production of biofuels. In Brazil, ethanol is extracted directly from sugarcane. India is promoting Jatropha curcas plantation for the production of biodiesel. Oil palm is another source of biofuel. Biofuel producing algae can be cultivated in salty ponds in conjunction with carbon power plants to capture their carbon dioxide emissions. Biodiesel crops should preferably target land that is less favorable for food crop production such as marginal land, salt-affected land, wasteland, etc. to avoid competition with food production.

Authoritative On-line References and Resources

http://www.epobio.net/epobio.htm

Description of Resource

EPOBIO is consortium of academic and industry partners from Europe and the US which aims to identify areas for further investment in plant science research to advance the use of crops as feedstocks for biofuels and other bioproducts.

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