Biotechnology boosts raw material supply

BIO noted the EPI report underestimates the impact
biotechnology will have in increasing yields of both corn and ethanol from corn
as well as producing ethanol from cellulose, meeting worldwide demand for both
food and fuel.

“Agricultural biotechnology is helping farmers
increase corn yields so we can make more ethanol,” stated BIO President and CEO
Jim Greenwood. “In addition, industrial biotech companies are developing new
enzymes that make current ethanol processes more efficient and will soon allow
the economical conversion of cellulosic crop residues to fuel. With ongoing
advances in biotechnology, biofuels can helpAmerica meet nearly half its
transportation-fuel needs by the middle of this century.”

Report on the future of
feedstock
BIO’s recently
released report, “Achieving
Sustainable Production of Agricultural Biomass for Biorefinery Feedstock,”
outlines current and future feedstock supply challenges for the biofuel industry
and discusses incentives to spur sustainable production, harvest and delivery of
agricultural cellulosic biomass. The report shows that corn stover and cereal
straw can supply 200 million dry tons of feedstock annually within three to five
years, tripling current ethanol from corn production.