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Fueling the future with sorghum

Sorghum is a genus comprising numerous grass species with diversified uses, from grain to forage and syrup production.  Therefore, sorghum is extremely versatile in offering multiple pathways to ethanol:

• Starch-to-ethanol.  Grain sorghum conversion to ethanol is equal to corn.  Today, about 15% of the U.S. grain sorghum crop currently goes into ethanol production, according to industry estimates.
• Sugar-to-ethanol from sweet sorghum.  Conversion is similar to that of sugar cane, which is widely believed to be the best source of ethanol to date; and
• Cellulosic ethanol. No other crop or other cellulose source equals sorghum in conversion, production efficiency or ethanol gallons per acre.  This process, which is currently being perfected, also draws on the versatility of sorghum. Supply channels for cellulosic ethanol include:
• Residue/regrowth from grain sorghum
• Forage sorghums
• Bagasse from sweet sorghum, and
• Dedicated biomass sorghums

In addition, sorghum is very water-efficient, as well as drought- and heat-tolerant, which makes the crop a logical choice for areas of the High Plains, the West and across the South.  Texas, in particular, is interested in developing the potential of sorghum as a bio-fuel feedstock.  The goal is high biomass accumulation with sweet sorghum – as much as 20 tons per acre.

Consider the production efficiency of sorghum.  A Regional Water Plan prepared for the Texas Panhandle Water Planning Group in Amarillo, Texas, found that the water savings over 50 years for 524,243 acres spread over 21 counties in the Texas Panhandle would amount to 7.36 million acre-feet of water if irrigated corn acreage were converted to irrigated sorghum. That’s on average, 147,200 acre-feet saved per year—about 48 billion gallons US (182 billion liters) per year.

Although to date, the crop’s geographic adaptability has been restricted to warmer climates, Advanta is developing sorghum cultivars with cold tolerance that will expand sorghum’s growth zones.  Advanta has long been committed to the quality and feed value of our sorghums.

Today, we also are on the leading edge of biomass research to help ensure that our sorghum hybrids and varieties help fuel the nation’s future.  Advanta’s germplasm and technology is unparalleled in scope.  North American growers benefit from our global access to Advanta research and development programs in India, Australia and Argentina.

Our seed partners and growers alike look to Advanta for modern science and traditional values…and to take the lead in the development of sorghum as the premier source of biomass to fuel cellulosic ethanol production.