How does biofuels production affect food and feed demand and costs?
DOE’s efforts on biofuels focus exclusively on developing non-food/feed based cellulosic feedstocks and ethanol production technologies. Corn and soybeans, the major commodity crops, are only one possible source of biofuels. As researchers develop new, cost-effective methods for converting biomass material to liquid transportation fuels, a significant amount will be made from more abundant cellulosic biomass sources, including crop and forestry residues, energy crops such as switchgrass and sorghum, and sorted municipal wastes. Crops grown to produce biofuels in the United States can also utilize a variety of agricultural lands. Future cellulosic crops will have the added benefit of being able to grow on marginal soils not suited for traditional agriculture. Less than one percent of farm land globally is currently used to grow biofuels crops. DOE’s approach to biorefining seeks simultaneously to maximize biopower and side-stream bioproduct production within the cellulosic fuel producti
