Florida alone generates enough orange peels to produce about 200 million gallons of ethanol yearly. The secret ingredient is a tobacco enzyme derived by cloning genes from fungi and bacteria, which is far less expensive than creating synthetic enzymes. The enzyme breaks down “woody” nonfood biomass like orange peels, enabling a wide range of non-food plants and plant waste to be used as feedstock for biofuels, instead of corn.
This same approach can be used on any number of feedstocks, such as agricultural waste, food leftovers, and newspapers.