A newly created microbe which produces cellulose that can be turned into ethanol and other biofuels, has been unveiled by scientists from The University of Texas.  According to the team the microbe could provide a significant portion of the USA’s transportation fuel if production can be scaled up.

Three projects have won awards from the DOE, worth up to $86 million over four years (FY ’08 - ‘11), to support the development of small-scale cellulosic biorefineries. Announcing the awards last week, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said; "These projects will help pioneer the next generation of non-food based biofuels that will power our cars and trucks. Sustained investments in cellulosic fuels made from corn cobs, woodchips, switchgrass and other agricultural waste will strengthen our nation's energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil."

Current news coverage and headlines blaming biofuels for shortages of food crops are; "simplistic and perhaps short-sighted scapegoats", according to UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director, UN Environment Programme, Achim Steiner. He went on to say that the headlines were; "convenient distractions for what is so often in reality poor management at national and international levels. They do, however, point to the inescapable fact that food security is intimately linked to national and international security."

Federal funding, worth up to $7 million over two years (FY 2008 – 2009), has been unveiled by the US Department of Energy for advanced research and development in converting non-food based biomass to biofuels. The Funding Opportunity Announcement was made today (18th April) and when combined with private minimum cost share of 20 percent, up to $8.75 million would be invested in this research effort, sasy the DOE. 

The completion of, what is claimed to be, the world's first commerial biomass to liquid (BTL) plant took place today (17th April) in Freiberg, Germany. The plant, built by CHOREN Industries GmbH, will produce a high performance fuel from non-food biomass, such as forest residues and waste wood.

Syngenta is to build a new biotech research & technology center in Beijing, China. In announcing the move today (17th April) the company said that the investment in the project will be approximately $65 million in the first five years.

The addition of ethanol to US gasoline supplies not only helps keep gasoline prices down, but also helps keep the price of crude oil lower, said the US Renewable Fuels Association in a statement today (17th April). After weeks of negative headlines the RFA was keen to put the record straight with its take on the markets.