Genetic engineering for bioenergy crops

Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, and natural gas) are neither sustainable nor ecofriendly because the source is finite and their use cause considerable pollution. (Naik et al. 2010). There has been a dramatic increase in the price of oil in 2008, and more drastic price increases nicknamed “peak oil” in the coming years are predicted (Goldemberg 2007; Potters et al. 2010). Dwindling oil reserves, less than adequate investments into oil exploration and production, and rising demand for oil are major reasons for the anticipated oil price increase (Lloyd’s 2011). Most greenhouse gas emissions are the result of electricity production and heating (27%) using fossil fuels. Other causes of greenhouse gas emissions include land use/change and forestry (18%), agriculture (13%), other energy sectors (13%), transportation (12%), manufacturing and construction (11%), and industrial process (3%) (World Resource Institute 2011). The concerns about dwindling fossil fuel reserves and oil price increases, and the relationship between fossil fuels and global climate change have generated great interest in bioenergy/biofuels.