ABSTRACT
Use of locally grown renewable biofuel feedstocks for production of various fuel, energy, and bioproducts through green chemistry pathways aligns well with the global interest and presents great opportunities, in terms of possible environmental benefits, energy security, and new jobs stimulus, along 16with its associated challenges. Even though studies indicate uncertainties, a sustainable biomass availability and the processing technologies have been demonstrated to displace a significant amount of petroleum. Biofuel feedstock utilization in future might address the energy security and sustainability issues, such as providing the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price through efficient production and conversion, scientific-technological innovations, stakeholder investments, and favorable governmental actions. This chapter provides a brief overview of challenges and opportunities for biofuel feedstock production and utilization in different sections that include biofuel feedstocks types, potential, production status, and consumption; challenges in production and utilization including establishment and management of crop stands, land availability, conversion process, competing use, and economics of utilization; opportunities in processing for biofuels and bioproducts using green-processing technologies, high-value products, environmental benefits analysis, modern concepts of biorefinery, advanced feedstock supply and distributed preprocessing systems, energy security, and perennial crops role in sustainability; and finally the conclusions and future directions.
