What are the best agronomic practices for increasing biofuel yields?

2 Crop management

The second step to enhance biofuel production is to apply appropriate crop management techniques, such as irrigation, fertilization, pest control, and harvesting. These techniques can affect the quantity and quality of the biomass, as well as the environmental impact of the cultivation. For example, irrigation can increase the biomass yield, but it can also deplete water resources and cause soil salinization. Fertilization can boost the nutrient content of the biomass, but it can also increase the greenhouse gas emissions and runoff pollution. Pest control can protect the crop from diseases and insects, but it can also harm beneficial organisms and biodiversity. Harvesting can determine the timing and frequency of biomass collection, but it can also influence the soil quality and carbon sequestration.

3 Crop improvement

The third step to improve biofuel production is to use bioengineering tools to modify the crop traits, such as yield, composition, stress tolerance, and conversion efficiency. Bioengineering can involve genetic engineering, marker-assisted breeding, genome editing, or synthetic biology. These methods can introduce new genes or modify existing ones to enhance the desired characteristics of the crop. For example, bioengineers can insert genes that increase the sugar or oil content of the biomass, or that reduce the lignin or cellulose content to facilitate the conversion process. Bioengineers can also create genes that confer resistance to drought, salinity, or pests, or that improve the photosynthesis or nitrogen fixation of the crop.

4 Crop integration

The fourth step to maximize biofuel production is to integrate the crop with other components of the biofuel system, such as livestock, microbes, or biorefineries. Crop integration can increase the resource efficiency and value-added potential of the biofuel system. For example, crop residues can be used as animal feed or bedding, or as a source of biogas or biochar. Livestock manure can be used as a fertilizer or a biogas substrate. Microbes can be used to ferment the biomass or to produce enzymes or chemicals. Biorefineries can be used to process the biomass into multiple biofuels and bioproducts, such as ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biohydrogen, or bioplastics.

5 Crop diversification

The fifth step to optimize biofuel production is to diversify the crop portfolio and the cropping system. Crop diversification can reduce the dependence on a single crop or a single biofuel, and increase the resilience and adaptability of the biofuel system. For example, bioengineers can design crops that can produce multiple biofuels or bioproducts, such as algae that can produce both ethanol and biodiesel. Bioengineers can also design cropping systems that can rotate, intercrop, or co-crop different biofuel crops, such as corn and soybean, or switchgrass and clover. These systems can improve the soil health, nutrient cycling, weed suppression, and pest management of the biofuel system.

6 Crop evaluation

The sixth step to enhance biofuel production is to evaluate the performance and impact of the biofuel crop and the biofuel system. Crop evaluation can involve measuring the biomass yield, quality, and conversion efficiency, as well as the environmental, economic, and social benefits and costs of the biofuel system. For example, bioengineers can use life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare the energy input and output, greenhouse gas emissions, water footprint, and land use of different biofuel crops and processes. Bioengineers can also use cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to compare the profitability, feasibility, and competitiveness of different biofuel crops and markets. Bioengineers can also use stakeholder analysis (SA) to assess the perceptions, preferences, and participation of different actors involved in the biofuel system.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?