Minagri to study crop potential for biofuels

Chile's ministry of agriculture Minagri and natural resources center Cirén have launched a study to assess the potential of 30 plant species for the production of biofuels in Chile, the ministry said in a statement. "The study will determine that kinds of biofuel feedstocks that can best adapt to the agricultural conditions in the country," Cirén director Rodrigo Álvarez said in the statement, adding that the study would also look the amount of each feedstock that could be produced. The seven-month study will assess non-conventional species such as castor, jatropha and jojoba, as well as traditional crops such as soy, mustard and sugar beets. The results will be made available to the private sector to reduce the risk associated with new investments in biofuel production, according to the statement.