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Biofuels and biocontainment

Nature Biotechnology volume 25, pages 283–284 (2007)Cite this article

To the editor:

If the large spread on alternative fuels in last July's issue is any indication, there are both economic and environmental benefits to replacing fossil fuels with biofuels1. It is difficult to imagine that transgenic technologies will not be pivotal in transforming the process of going from grass to gas2, in particular enhancing the production of lignocellulosic-based plant feedstock and its conversion into ethanol or biodiesel. Although biotech has an opportunity to increase yields and efficiency of bioenergy crop production as well as aid the conversion of complex carbohydrates and plant oils to fuels, unless modifications are performed with an eye to meet future regulatory and consumer issues, these potential benefits might never be realized. Here, I outline some important issues concerning containment as they relate to the future development of bioenergy crops.

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  1. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, 252 Ellington Plant Sciences, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville, 37996-4561, Tennessee, USA

    C Neal Stewart Jr

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  1. C Neal Stewart Jr
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Stewart, C. Biofuels and biocontainment. Nat Biotechnol 25, 283–284 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0307-283

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