Japan Introduces Bio-Fuel Made From Rice

The world’s first bio-fuel made from rice was introduced at gas stations in the Japanese Niigata Prefecture last week. The aim of the project is to efficiently use uncultivated rice paddies, regulated by the government or driven out of business due to cheaper food imports, while reducing dependence on imported gasoline. 2,250 tons of rice is anticipated to yeild 1,000 kilolitres of ethanol annually, resulting in 33,000 kilolitres of biofuel when blended with gasoline.

Although the home-produced ethanol is more expensive than imported, it can on a larger scale both provide energy security and food security (eating the rice instead of turning it into fuel) in a country dependent on imports.

Via: The Mainichi Daily News