AreaUnited States of America

Commodity GroupBiofuels

CommodityBiodiesel

Date01/03/2018

Policy CategoryRenewable energy

Policy InstrumentBiofuel policy

DescriptionDecided 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.

NotesThe 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.