Energy crops, candidate

Table 29. Projected Delivered Costs for Candidate Biomass Energy Crops in 1990 and 2030 ...

David Bransby (personal communication, October, 2002) recommended seven potential energy crops (mimosa, sericea, kudzu, arunzo, switchgrass, velvet bean, and castor) as candidates for the extraction of high-value products based on crop yields and largely anecdotal medicinal information. 

Overall, the research that has been completed in the United States on the development of herbaceous biomass energy crops shows that a wide range of suitable species exist from which good candidates can be chosen for each area. 

There is little doubt that the brassinosteroids can have a major effect on world grain markets and on the increased production of horticultural crops utilizing the same land area. This means reduced energy costs and that, coupled to the apparently environmentally safe aspects of these compounds, makes them ideal candidates for industrial development. But a number of critical problems remain and it seems that there will be limited fundamental examination with the brassinosteroids unless they are used practically. Frankly stated, funds generated from the sales of marketable brassinosteroids will drive all the other studies. While this is a critical time in the development of the brassinosteroids, their future promises to be interesting politically, scientifically, and practically. To quote an old aphorism, to the victor will go the laurels. 

Green plants are solar-powered chemical factories that convert carbon dioxide and water into a variety of energy-rich compounds. Crops can be developed to help provide renewable sources of fuels and chemicals and at the same time to provide a continuing source of feed and food. Several candidates have been identified, which can become future crops for American Agriculture. 

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