The Carbohydrate Economy
New technologies, new laws and an increasingly aware public are ushering in a new materials base for the 21st century - plant matter. Carbohydrates, the building blocks of plant matter, can be converted into chemicals, energy, textiles, building materials, paper, and many other industrial products. We call this new materials base a "carbohydrate economy." A carbohydrate economy reduces pollution, builds stronger rural communities, and supports a rooted farmer-owned manufacturing sector.

Newest Information

• The New Ethanol Future Demands a New Public Policy
  ILSR's David Morris believes that U.S. government programs supporting ethanol need to be refocused on farmers and local ownership and be broadened to include other renewable fuels. His opinion piece in the June 21, 2006, New York Times is expanded here in a paper titled, The New Ethanol Future Demands a New Public Policy
  
  
• Minnesota Becomes First State to Endorse an Electric-Alcohol Transportation Strategy
  A new law puts Minnesota on the path towards reducing its reliance on oil by embracing a transportation strategy based on flexible-fueled, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). - ILSR Press Release, June 8, 2006
  
  
• The Once and Future Carbohydrate Economy - by David Morris, published in The American Prospect, April 2006
  
  
• Ownership Matters: Three Steps to Ensure a Biofuels Industry that Truly Benefits Rural America (PDF)
  Adapted from David Morris's speech to Minnesota Ag Expo 2006 in Morton, Minnesota.
  
  
• The Carbohydrate Economy, Biofuels and the Net Energy Debate
  This August 2005 report by David Morris addresses the never-ending question "Doesn’t it take more energy to make ethanol than is contained in the ethanol?" In 1980, the short and empirical answer to this question was yes. In 1990, the answer was, probably not. In 2005 the answer is clearly no.
  
  
• The Energetics of Ethanol: An Introduction and Link to Studies
  How much energy does it take to make a gallon of ethanol? Make up your own mind by looking at the studies themselves!