Assessment of bioconversion in EU
The European Commission, DG XII, has published the report of a study assessing bioconversion in the European Union, carried out with funding from the Community's specific RTD programme in the field of agriculture and agro-industry (AIR), part of the Third RTD Framework Programme. The report covers past and present activities relating to the bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass through enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation for the production of liquid transport fuel in the form of bioethanol. It also covers other aspects of non-food use of plant material where processing with lignocellulosic enzymes may be of value. The objectives of the study were: - To review current progress in RTD activities in this area, with emphasis on EC supported activities, including assessment of the ultra-fast hydrolysis pilot plant in Soria, Spain; - To provide an economic assessment of the conditions under which support of RTD in this area is justified, including a comparison between EC and US thinking; - To provide information in this area as an input to the Biological Information System (BIS), a database funded by DG XII of the European Commission.