Growing energy to fix a growing energy problem

According to the International Energy Agency, the growth of ethanol production decreases global oil demand by 1 million barrels a day. That's equivalent to the amount of oil the United States imports from Venezuela annually.

Farmers who have supplied grain for ethanol production are now looking to corn stover as a way to maximize their planting options and preserve more of the protein, fat and fiber of their crops for animal feed. And bioenergy processors are developing new ways to process cellulosic fuel sources, such as miscanthus and switchgrass.

At the same time, legislators are getting ready to finalize the 2012 Farm Bill, which will affect the way farmers and processors strategize for tomorrow.

In this month's Spotlight we examine the potential future of bioenergy, including the role new biomass strategies can play.