Agave plant has “high biofuel potential”

Scientists at the University of Illinois have been studying the use of the agave plant as biofuel — yes, the same plant that tequila is made from — and have found that two particular species of agave produce greater biofuel feedstocks than other sources like corn, wheat, soybean, and sorghum.

According to bioenergy analyst, Sarah Davis,

"We need bioenergy crops that have a low risk of unintended land use change. Biomass from Agave can be harvested as a co-product of tequila production without additional land demands.

Also, abandoned Agave plantations in Mexico and Africa that previously supported the natural fiber market could be reclaimed as bioenergy cropland. More research on Agave species is warranted to determine the tolerance ranges of the highest yielding varieties that would be most viable for bioenergy production in semi-arid regions of the world."

Researchers have performed 14 independent studies and concluded that agave has a "high biofuel potential".

This article appears in Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2011.