How can biotechnology be used to more efficiently produce biofuels?
Yields for biotech corn are higher than for conventional corn. That makes it more cost-effective to produce ethanol. A U.S. Department of Energy Biofuels Program study concluded that if 4 billion gallons of ethanol were consumed annually, roughly 26 million metric tons of CO2emissions would be eliminated.1 What’s more, plant biotechnology also can help reduce U.S. need for foreign oil and create jobs in the United States. Today, more than half of the petroleum-based energy used by U.S. industries and automobiles is imported. That costs roughly $70 billion, which represents nearly half of the current U.S. trade deficit.2 In addition, the International Energy Agency estimates that world petroleum production will peak between 2010 and 2020.3 By “growing” more of its own fuel, the United States can meet more of its own energy needs from renewable, plant-based resources. Collectively, biofuels work to restore the atmosphere’s natural CO2 balance by not only displacing fossil-fuel emissions,
