Cars run on ethanol could be more damaging to human health than conventional petrol vehicles, an American scientist claimed today.

“Six in 10 Americans believe the use of corn to make ethanol has raised food prices and caused more people to go hungry, the latest evidence of a growing global backlash against alternative “green” fuels.”

US President Bush’s plan to sign the energy bill will present opportunities for developing the biofuels market and research into ethanol production using sources other than corn. However, ethanol production using grasses and agricultural waste is still uncertain and poses challenges ahead.

Source: Technology Review published by MIT

As corn ethanol becomes less attractive as an alternative fuel, other fuel types such as higher alcohols, oils, and cellulosic biofuels are becoming more popular. However, Gregory Stephanopoulos outlines the challenges in converting biomass to biofuels in this article.

Author Clayton B. Cornell provides a plethora of information regarding the often confusing world of biofuels, and their role in our society.

Stanford News Service

High food prices have been associated with high petroleum prices. The cost of crop production is up, the value of the dollar is down, and biofuels are an attractive alternative to fossil fuels for transportation.