The last few years have seen the concept of bioenergy and biofuels, come of age. Rising oil prices have lead to more food crops being grown for energy as well as food, as significant contributors to global energy supply. This has created controversy as it has added to the upward pressure on crop commodity prices already being created by an increasing demand for food of an expanding world population. More attention has therefore been focussed on meeting the rising demand for bioenergy and biofuels in more sustainable ways. A wider range of crops is being explored, including non-food crops as well as the use of crop residues rather than grain or seed. Energy Crops is a comprehensive reference that looks at this topic from the plant and agricultural science perspective. The introductory chapter defines energy crops, reviews the development and state of the technology, gives an historical perspective and introduces the ethical issues. Each of the subsequent chapters is dedicated to a single crop and describes the current usage of that crop for energy, its potential for future development, the economic case and the research that is being undertaken to tailor the crop for use as an energy crop. Where appropriate, the implications for feed and food security are also discussed. The chapters by world-renowned experts of the plant breeding and biofuel industries will be essential reading for agricultural and environmental scientists, plant biologists, chemical and energy engineers, biotechnologists, and all those involved in developing policy on climate change and bioenergy production.

Introduction; Cereals; Sugar crops; Oil crops; Non-food crops; Socio-economic considerations; Industry perspective