The efficient production of both biofuel and animal feed from one crop is now possible, and can be done on a farm without the need for off-site processes. The research, published in the open access journal Biotechnology for Biofuels, demonstrates the practical potential of an alternative to fossil fuels that does not compete with food resources.
‘First-generation’ biofuels include ethanol produced from food sources such as corn and sugarcane. While recognized as a renewable energy source with potential to improve fuel security, their production has caused controversy over competing land-use for food and increased grain prices. The fermentation of non-food sources such as straw and wood, known as ‘second generation’ biofuels, has been promoted as a promising alternative, but also has its limitations.
First author Mitsuo Horita from the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, Japan, said: “Generally, the bottlenecks in second generation biofuel production include the need for large facilities, bulky material transport and complicated treatment processes, all of which are costly and consume a great deal of energy.
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