India, Aug. 6 -- Exploring the promise and pitfalls of biofuels, this piece highlights current feedstocks, policy challenges, sustainability concerns and the urgent need for systemic reform

The Promise and the Challenge of Biofuels

Biofuels have become a critical component of global efforts to decarbonize transportation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Central to this transition are biofuel feedstocks - the raw materials used to produce bioethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and aviation biofuels. Currently, the dominant feedstocks include first-generation crops such as corn, sugarcane, soy, rapeseed, and palm oil, which are energy-dense but raise sustainability concerns. On the other hand, used cooking oil (UCO), waste animal fat...