Seeing the Forest for the Trees in Biofuel Development
The advantages of cellulosic ethanol could be huge. According to the Policy Forum piece in the journal Science, ”Sustainable Biofuels Redux,” “The cultivation of cellulosic crops has the potential to promote soil carbon sequestration, reduce nitrous oxide emissions, provide to ecosystems in the surrounding landscape biodiversity-based services such as pollination and pest suppression, and afford much higher rates of return than grain-based systems.” The 23 author piece provides a fact-based analysis of the benefits and consequences of developing a biofuel economy.
Zymetis is working hard to give the market the tools necessary to turn biomass into inexpensive and environmentally responsible transportation-fuels. However, the most responsible and innovative science can only be part of a responsible and innovative system if that system develops under “policies that support long-term sustainability of both our landscape and our atmosphere.”
The piece concludes that such policies “are essential if we are to chart a low-carbon economy that is substantially better than business as usual.” We couldn’t agree more. “Business as usual” will not provide future generations with a livable planet.
By working with industry, government, and academic partners, Zymetis is focusing on the tools of transformation through aggressive development, while not losing sight of how those tools will fit into a responsible system. Our focus is helping us make sure that we can see the forest for the trees, without getting distracted by the abundance of cellulosic biomass.
