According to a Brazilian newspaper, termites now come to challenge corn and sugar cane-based technology in ethanol-production, a top United Nations environment official said. A termites host microbes capable of transforming wood waste into sugar that can produce ethanol in both an effective and economic way, Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Program said.
Though the United States and Brazil are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in several alternative fuels, Mr Steiner believes that the termite technology could eventually surpass corn and sugar cane-based ethanol production in a few years!
Presidents of the world’s biggest ethanol producers — Brazil and the United States – are scheduled to meet in Sao Paulo on Friday. Hope, they would discuss on the most unexpected topic of termites making them one of the priorities of their agenda.
