| Over the past couple of decades, extensive research | | | | from determining where massive quantities of these |
| has been conducted on the creation of alternative | | | | plants can be grown. It will require very large farm |
| fuel options. One segment of the alternative fuel | | | | areas in order to provide a significant portion of the |
| market that has been gaining popularity recently is | | | | world's fuel supply. Many people fear that large areas |
| biofuel. Biofuels are considered to be any liquid fuel | | | | of forest may be cut down to accommodate growth |
| that originates from renewable plant materials. Unlike | | | | of biofuel materials. |
| gasoline that is refined from limited crude oil supplies, | | | | Harvesting crops and converting them to useable fuel |
| biofuel can be created from a number of plentiful | | | | also has an adverse effect on the surrounding |
| organic sources. Some say that this prospect is too | | | | environment. Since most biofuels burn similarly to the |
| good to be true and the technology has been hotly | | | | fossil fuels that are currently in use, the question of |
| debated. | | | | how to curb vehicle emissions still looms. |
| One of the first major breakthroughs in biofuel | | | | Biofuels are becoming extremely attractive to |
| technology was developed using corn and wheat | | | | developing nations that are currently restricted by |
| products. This created controversy amongst many | | | | the high price of oil. Cambodia, for example, relies |
| different circles in the scientific community. Critics | | | | entirely on expensive imported fuel to provide its |
| have claimed that crops that are used in the | | | | people with electricity. Sometimes the supply is |
| production of food should not be turned in to fuel | | | | inconsistent and is often considered one of the major |
| because of the potential damage it could cause on | | | | factors that restrict the country's economic |
| the food supply. Researchers have since focused | | | | development. The jatropha plant that is native to |
| more on creating fuels derived from plants that | | | | Cambodia may be the answer to all of their woes. |
| typically have no real value in other industries. | | | | This plant is plentiful throughout the area and can |
| Most biofuel studies in the United States are now | | | | easily be harvested by local communities. It can be |
| being conducted using switchgrass and Miscanthus | | | | converted into biofuel that would provide the country |
| giganteus. These perennial grasses can grow rapidly in | | | | with its own sustainable power source. Researchers |
| a large variety of climates and don't require | | | | claim that Cambodia is one of the largest regions in |
| extremely fertile soil conditions. Despite avoiding the | | | | the world would immediately benefit from |
| use of edible materials, the latest controversy stems | | | | implementing biofuel technologies. |