Today in Biofuels Opinion: “Termites are our friends”

May 19, 2008

Steve Chu, 1997 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics and director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: “Termites are our friends,” referring to research on the termite’s ability to convert wood cellulose into sugars that can be fermented into fuel.

Sfgate.com: “Diverting one-fifth of the U.S. corn crop to corn-ethanol production… has driven up prices for corn and substitute crops...Demand for corn, soy and other livestock feeds already had been rising due to increased meat consumption by China and other emerging economies. Add some major weather, pest and disease shocks, and the market for staple agricultural commodities tightened dramatically in 2006 and 2007. Moreover, a surge in speculative activity has exacerbated market volatility. How should the three presidential candidates, in particular, address this crisis? For starters, the United States should retreat from its heavy promotion of corn-based ethanol and allow the markets to settle.”

Biofuels researchers target termite gut enzymes as key to cellulosic breakthrough

The November issue of Nature profiles research on enzymes found in termite guts. The research is conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI), the California Institut...

Energy Biosciences Institute taps 49 for $20 million in biofuels research grants

In California, the Energy Biosciences Institute named the first recipients of $20 million in biofuels research funding. The institute received a $500 million grant from BP last year. A total of 49 pro...

Today in BIofuels Opinion: “We haven’t even begun to see the impact on the cost of food.”

Kent Barton, plant spokesman for Moroni Feed: "I don't believe consumers understand what's going to hit them next year. We haven't even begun to see the impact on the cost of food." Gary Truitt, Ho...

Writers, scientists cross swords in global battle over biofuels

A new section debuts in Biofuels Digest today - World Opinion, in recognition of the growing debate over biofuels. Biofuels producers, finaciers, policymakers, friends and foes alike should pay increa...

Today in Biofuels Opinion: “Rarely has there been so much condescending feel-good hooey from anti-government conservatives and anti-big business, save-the-world liberals”

Bob Scott, president of the American Coalition for Ethanol: "Today, we face strong opposition, and their weapon primarily is the press." The editors of Forum.com: "The convergence of conservative...

Today in Biofuels Opinion: “There are 21 farm states, and that’s 42 senators…They’re going to have ethanol.”

T Boone Pickens, reporting a conversation in 1996 with Bob Dole: "He said, "Ethanol is, you say it's a bad fuel." I said, "Come on Bob, you spend more money making it than importing it." And he said, ...

Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under Opinion