With conventional fuel resources rapidly depleting and energy demands soaring, the need for sustainable alternatives has never been greater. Bioenergy crops offer a promising solution, but their cultivation often competes with food production, raising concerns about land use. To address this, growing bioenergy crops like millets on marginal lands presents a sustainable way forward.

Millets stand out as ideal bioenergy crops due to their ability to thrive in poor soil conditions with minimal inputs while producing high biomass. As C4 crops, they efficiently capture carbon dioxide and convert solar energy into plant material, making them valuable for biofuel production. Additionally, their climate resilience and nutritional benefits further enhance their appeal.

Ongoing research is exploring how to improve millet-based biofuel production using advanced breeding and genetic technologies. Techniques like marker-assisted breeding, multi-omics analysis, and gene editing are being used to enhance biomass yield and optimize energy conversion. Scientists are also studying millets as model crops to better understand the genes and pathways involved in efficient bioenergy production.

By integrating millets into biofuel systems, we can reduce reliance on fossil fuels, promote sustainable energy solutions, and contribute to climate change mitigation—all while preserving agricultural land for food production.

Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.09.019