Kampai! Japanese Make Ethanol From Straw

Ethanol “can help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2), which contributes to global warming, but the cost of production and competition with food supplies tempers its appeal,” the wire says. A study showed  that ethanol could be made from rice straw at a cost of $1.60 per gallon. Adding the costs for gathering straw waste, the gallon would cost $3.20  to make. That compares with $3.20 to $4 per gallon of imported Brazilian ethanol.

Not so fast, says Japan’s farm ministry, figuring that “ it would take about five years before commercial production of ethanol from non-food products would be economically viable.”