Biobased economy: “Bioeconomy” and “biobased economy” describe a future in which people rely more on renewable resources to meet society’s needs for energy, chemicals and raw materials. Instead of an economy dependent on the planet’s limited supply of nonrenewable resources such as petroleum and coal, we will convert biomass — plant material and municipal and livestock waste — into electricity, fuels, plastics and the basic components of chemical processes.

Biodiesel: A fuel made from plant oils that can be used in a conventional diesel engine.

Biodiversity: The relative abundance and variety of plant and animal species and ecosystems within particular habitats.

Bioenergy: Renewable energy made from organic matter. The organic matter may be used directly as a fuel or processed into liquids or gases.

Biofuel: Fuel made from renewable resources such as cellulose, corn or plant oils. Ethanol, biodiesel and methanol are all biofuels.

Biomass: Renewable organic matter, including wood and other forest products, plants, agricultural crops, human and animal waste, and aquatic plants.

Bioproducts: Products made from renewable resources or processed from renewable resources.

Biorefinery: A factory where biomass is processed into biofuels, biochemicals, biomaterials and other bioproducts. Byproducts are used to power the factory or are turned into other products.

Cellulose: A carbohydrate in plants. Cellulose makes plant stems, stalks and trunks rigid and gives structure to cell walls.

Fuel cell: A device that converts the energy of a fuel directly to electricity and heat, without combustion.

Greenhouse gas: A gas that traps heat from the sun in the Earth’s atmosphere and produces greenhouse effects. Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas. Others include nitrous oxide and methane.

Nanotechnology: Technology that works at the atomic or molecular level.

Petrochemicals: Chemicals made from oil, natural gas or other fossilized hydrocarbons.