Editorial:

Harnessing plant biomass for biofuels and biomaterials

By Christoph Benning and Eran Pichersky

…Concerned citizens from scientists to policy makers have recognized the need for a reliable, renewable and affordable source of carbon in its chemically reduced form that can sustain future economic developments without having a negative impact on the environment. Discussion of solutions to overcome the current dependence on fossil carbon is conducted at all levels of society. The conversion of light energy into chemical energy by plant photosynthesis ranks prominently among the natural processes that can potentially meet the challenge. Plant biologists and biochemists are therefore at the forefront of developing schemes and ideas for an emerging bioeconomy that sustainably harnesses plant biomass.

To contribute to the ongoing discussion in this area, we present in this special issue a series of reviews that describe the multiple biochemical processes that plants can or could use to convert their fixed carbon into fuels and other useful products. Rather than advocate a specific process or compound, these invited peer-reviewed articles by leading plant biologists and biochemists focus on the scientific facts behind the production of plant biofuels such as ethanol or biodiesel, as well as other important chemicals that are often unique to plants…

SPECIAL ISSUE: Harnessing plant biomass for biofuels and biomaterials

GLBRC researchers Christoph Benning, Timothy Durrett, Kenneth Keegstra, John Ohlrogge and Markus Pauly contributed to this issue. 

American society, with a standard of living unprecedented in human history, can attribute a large measure of its success to increasingly sophisticated uses of energy. The strength of industry, the speed of transportation, the myriad comforts and conveniences of home and workplace, and the security of the nation all derive from ever more ingenious provision and application of various sources and forms of energy.

But that condition has come at a cost—to irreplaceable resources, to the environment, and to our national independence. Society has begun to question the methods we use to power modern life and to search for better alternatives. As the nationwide debate continues, it is already evident that managing energy use wisely in the 21^st century will call for balancing three essential, but quite different, concerns: resources, responsibility, and security.

Please download The National Academies booklet, “What You Need to Know About Energy,” to learn more

ENERGY CHALLENGES

Presented to the 145th Annual Meeting
of the National Academy of Sciences
Ralph J. Cicerone, President
April 28, 2008

Download Energy Challenges here