http://www.isaaa.org/kc/A bi-weekly summary of world developments on biofuels, produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA).en-usFri, 25 Apr 2008 17:00:00 +0800http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/biofuels/default.asp?Date=4/25/2008#2450The German Minister of Environment, Sigmar Gabriel, announced that he has stopped the planned increase in the mandatory ethanol blend in gasoline (from the present 5% to 10%). Some industry and political groups have criticized the planned increase, saying that the higher ethanol blends could damage older cars. More than 3 million cars in Germany ar...News and Trendshttp://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/biofuels/default.asp?Date=4/25/2008#2451The ENN (Environmental News Network) website presents a summary of a paper by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). The paper entitled, “The Multilateral Trade and Investment Context for Biofuels: Issues and Challenges" discusses some factors influencing the lon...News and Trendshttp://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/biofuels/default.asp?Date=4/25/2008#2452The Central Florida Pipeline (owned by American energy company, Kinder Morgan) is a 104-mile long pipeline which runs between the Port of Tampa and Orlando Airport. It has been transporting gasoline since 1965. Recently, it is being retrofitted to transport denatured alcohol by the end of this year, and is set to become the first national ethanol p...News and Trendshttp://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/biofuels/default.asp?Date=4/25/2008#2453Scientists from the University of Texas at Austin (United States) have developed a cellulose-producing microorganism which can be used as a biofuel feedstock without having to utilize arable land. The microorganism belongs to a phylum (taxonomic group) of bacteria, called “Cyanobacteria” (sometimes known as “blue green algae”). The scientific team ...Energy Crops and Feedstocks for Biofuels Productionhttp://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/biofuels/default.asp?Date=4/25/2008#2454Hydrogen is the “clean fuel” used in hybrid cars, in specially designed batteries (called “fuel cells”) to generate electrical energy to drive the car’s engine. Hybrid cars have an electrical power source, as well as a regular fossil-fuel-powered source which can be operated for optimum energy consumption. Although hydrogen is considered “clean ene...Biofuels Processinghttp://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/biofuels/default.asp?Date=4/25/2008#2455In an effort to encourage and maintain viable biofuel production amid rising palm oil prices, the Indonesian National Biofuel Development Committee (NBDC) has proposed a tax cut in the form of reduction in value added tax (VAT). Palm oil is the main raw material for biodiesel in Indonesia, and its price has almost risen two-fold to about 783 Euros ...Biofuels Policy and Economicshttp://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/biofuels/default.asp?Date=4/25/2008#2456The government of Great Britain has started a review of the environmental and economic impacts of its biofuel development policy. According to British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, "We need to look closely at the impact on food prices and the environment of different production methods and to ensure we are more selective in our support for biofuels...Biofuels Policy and Economics