Queensland looks to aviation sector to boost biofuel industry

The Queensland government says clean and green aviation fuel could be the key to the success of the Australian state’s fledgling biofuel industry. Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin released the government’s discussion paper on plans for the state’s biofuel and bioproduct industry. Mulherin said the U.S., Europe and Brazil dominated the international bio-industries sector but he believed Queensland could become a world leader. The government is funding the University of Queensland’s research into the production of aviation biofuels from a variety of plants, including sugarcane waste, algae and seeds from the tree Pongamia pinnata. The project has also attracted funding from Boeing and U.S. renewable products company Amyris Biotechnologies. (July 16, 2010)