Biofuel Researchers See Bright Future

The increased use of corn-derived ethanol and other bio-fuels has been blamed for rising food prices worldwide. But defenders of these fuels say their impact on food prices is being exaggerated and that new fuels under development will largely bypass that problem in any case. VOA’s Greg Flakus has more on the story from College Station, Texas.

Federal law requires the use of ethanol in gasoline, usually at around 10 percent, but some flex-fuel vehicles can also use an 85-percent mix.

But critics say congressional mandates to use ethanol are ill-conceived. They note that corn-derived ethanol generates less than two units of energy for every unit used to produce it. Even ethanol promoters agree that the future lies in using more non-food material, like corn stalks, to produce what is called cellulosic fuel.

Voice of America