Until now most of the biofuels were produced from cultivated plants, such as corn and sugar cane. However, the use of these plants is problematic as it raises world food prices on the one hand as it requires the use of vast areas which often lead to the destruction of tropical forests.

So, in order to address these problems, Brazil has decided to take a different path. It will set up a plant that will produce biofuels from algae and phytoplankton.

Indeed, carbon dioxide released as a by-product from a nearby sugarcane bioethanol production plant will be used to feed the phytoplankton. In other words the benefits to the environment will be manifold.