Sugarcane as a Potential Biofuel Crop

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) belonging to family Poaceae is a tropical perennial grass used widely for sugar production. Research scientists have discovered sugarcane as an alternative biofuel source to conventional petroleum fuels that lead to global warming. The sugars extracted from sugarcane can be easily fermented to produce ethanol. In addition, the bagasse (biomass remaining after the juice is extracted from the stalks) can be further used by sugar mills to generate steam and electricity. The current total global production of renewable fuels is 50 billion liters a year, and sugarcane alone accounts for about 40%, thus becoming a major contributor for biofuel production. The tremendous success of sugarcane industry to produce ethanol as biofuel in Brazil has also enhanced the interest in other parts of the world. With conventional technologies, sugarcane can yield several products from fiber to chemicals. But with the help of genetic recombination, sugarcane would roll to produce the novel biofuels more efficiently. Research scientists have identified the key enzymes that can hasten the process of ethanol production more powerfully. There is tremendous potential of sugarcane as a biofactory which can uplift both socioeconomic status of a country and sustainability of natural resources. Now, it’s time to augment weightage to produce biofuels in developing countries like India which would initiate rural development, create more job opportunities, and also save foreign exchange to great extent.