Biofuel News Digest - January 19

I have always thought that there is going to be an intersection of biofuels and biotech. I have always wondered what would happen if a new crop that allowed us to be green and energy independent was a genetically modified oranism. GMO crops are generally eschewed by the same people who gravitate toward greener fuels. Would we be making a deal with the devil or would be simply be using technology to solve new problems as we always have? I do no not intend to enter this debate. I will only keep you posted when biofuels meet biotech.

DOE And USDA Combine on Soybean Genomics Initiative
Here we go. The soybean is integral to today's biodiesel production. However, it is not the most productive plant available when thinking of oil havested in pounds per acre. Since the soybean has other valuable uses beyond the oil and it grows successfully across the Unitied States, its our country's go-to bean. So, can we modify its DNA to get it to produce more oil? Should we? The US Department of Energy and US Department of Agriculture are looking into question no. 1.

Biotech Industry Has Eye on Biofuel Phenomenon
It won't just be the government getting into the biofuel & biotech merger. Private industry, already having demonstrated redounding commercial success with GMO crops, see the coming wave of biofuel demand. They aren't going to wait.