According to US scientists, certain bacteria can be used to break down plant-based (cellulosic) biomass into sugars and ferment it into ethanol without the need for specifically grown feedstock.
Ethanol provides the bulk of biomass fuels, but certain lobbies are concerned that the amount of land being converted to growing corn for the purpose of producing ethanol negates the environmental credentials of the biomass fuel. This new discovery should significantly reduce the environmental impact of producing ethanol and also make the financial incentives for transport and petrol companies much stronger.