The Development of Liquid Fuels from Lignocellulose

The efficient production of cellulosic  fuels by biochemical routes will require innovation in three main  areas: sustainable production of feedstocks that do not compete with  food production, depolymerization of feedstocks, and conversion of  feedstocks to liquid fuels.  In  this respect there is renewed interest in identifying plants that have  optimal biomass accumulation and understanding the production issues  associated with large-scale cultivation and sustainable harvesting of  such species.  Additionally, the  importance of enhancing soil carbon and nutrient retention while  minimizing inputs will require an integrated approach to the development  of cellulosic energy crops.