Area
United States of America
Commodity Group
Biofuels
Commodity
Biodiesel
Date
01/03/2018
Policy Category
Renewable energy
Policy Instrument
Biofuel policy
Description
Decided to support research on the development of enhanced sugar cane and elephant grass, in an effort to identify alternative feedstock for the production of transport biodiesel and aviation fuel.
Notes
The U.S. Department of Energy decided to support research on the development of enhanced sugarcane and elephant grass (miscanthus fuscus), in a bid to contribute to efforts to identify alternative feedstock for the production of transport biodiesel and aviation fuel. Reportedly, a team of researchers is working on raising the oil content in the stem of the two crops to 20 percent, using genetic engineering techniques. Allegedly, if fully successful, the targeted crops would produce up to 15 times more biodiesel per unit of land compared to soybeans.
