While the most common crops used for ethanol throughout the world are certainly corn and sugarcane, there are an increasing number of crops being investigated and used in the industry. Amongst sugar/starch crops, sugarbeet and sweet sorghum have been the focus of much attention; cellulosic crops such as switchgrass, miscanthus, corn stover, poplar, and grass are the subject of increasing interest.
Currently, rapeseed (canola) is the dominant feedstock for biodiesel in Europe, and soybeans are the dominant feedstock for biodiesel in the United States. Warmer countries such as Malaysia often use palm oil for biodiesel production. Other promising crops for biodiesel production include mustard, camelina, and jatropha. For more information see Oilseed Crops for Biodiesel Production.
Crop residues and wastes of a large number of crops are also collected for biofuel production, and can be converted to ethanol, biodiesel, and methane gas.
For additional information, see Feedstocks for Biofuel Production
