Advances of Basic Science for Second Generation Bioethanol from Sugarcane

This book focuses on the basic science recently produced in Brazil for the improvement of sugarcane as a bioenergy crop and as a raw material for 2nd generation bioethanol production. Part I details the development of some of the most important basic scientific tools needed for 2nd generation technologies of sugarcane in the domains of plant physiology and agricultural sciences and the domains of chemistry and biochemistry of plants and microorganisms. These include issues such as plant cell wall structure and architecture, physical characteristics of sugarcane biomass that are to be used for hydrolysis and fermentation in 2nd generation processes. Part II focuses on the development of the more applied sciences necessary to advance technological processes of pretreatment and hydrolysis of biomass and fermentation of the free sugars released from it. Some aspects of enzyme engineering are approached in this session and ends with a proposition of the assembly of an enzymatic cocktail based on the discoveries made by INCT-Bioethanol researchers after discovery of new enzymes among the Brazilian biodiversity of microorganisms. Part III examines the issue of how some key elements of basic science (Part I) have been applied to develop technologies for 2nd generation bioethanol (Part II). The translation from basic to applied sciences is highlighted as key for innovation using examples based on recent case studies in the area. In Part IV, we discuss how policies that interconnect the scientific communities and the society in general can help to accelerate or decelerate technological development depending on how efficient is the communication between scientists, policy makers and industry leaders.