Sugarcane Into Diesel — Cold-Tolerant, Highly Productive, Oil-Producing Crop Developed for US

A new type of sugarcane possessing a photosynthetic rate that’s been increased by 30%, boosted oil production, and improved cold-tolerance has been developed by a multi-institutional research team.  The new sugarcane was developed with the intention of allowing large-scale biodiesel production to be undertaken in the US, using the new crop.

With the improved cold-tolerance — and the accompanying increase in growing range — sugarcane biodiesel production could supply up to 147% of the US mandate for renewable fuels, according to the researchers.  They also note that the crop could be (relatively) easily grown on the abandoned land that’s somewhat common throughout the Southeast.

Sugarcane Into Diesel — Cold-Tolerant, Highly Productive, Oil-Producing Crop Developed for US