Date: Feb 21, 2011
The USDA has cleared the way for farming corn that is genetically modified to produce α-amylase, an enzyme that rapidly breaks down starch into sugar. The decision—denounced by environmental groups—marks the first U.S. approval of a crop designed for ethanol production.
The alfa amylase trait is expected to increase productivity of the modified corn by around 10%, a one off gain over a few years, but a significant gain if indeed achievable.
But a big question remains: are genetic engineering and increasing yields - when happening - going to solve the global soft commodity volatility problem caused in part by the corn ethanol mandate? It seems the USDA is betting on it.
Link: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/89/i08/8908notw5.html
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