Who Needs Crops When You Have Microbes?

Finding an alternative to using oil for fuel production has been a strenuous battle. When the discovery that certain crops, like soy and corn, could be used to make fuel it was a big deal. Unfortunately, it is now being acknowledged that there simply isn’t enough space for these crops. What do we do now? Microbes are the answer. Specifically the Streptomyces bacterium. A microbe commonly seen in antibiotics, Streptomyces is a soil bacterium and may be the solution to the problem.

The article “How Scientists Could Expand The Menu Of Biofuel-Making Microbes” discusses how this concept was discovered and how scientists plan to move forward with this finding. The author, Jeff Spross, is arguing for the usage of microbes in the production of biofuel. Seeing that there doesn’t seem to be any negative results of using microbes as an alternative, it’s hard not to agree with Spross’ argument. The issue of limited amount of arable land space for crops is identified in the article, but there is also another issue. Spross states, “…the feedstocks also double as human food, so the demand for biofuels can drive up food prices.”

I completely agree that using microbes as an alternative source for biofuel is a brilliant idea. It’s an all-natural source, which I am always for, and producers know how to produce the Streptomyces in large quantities. As mentioned prior, Streptomyces is used for antibiotics, so producers are familiar with the production process. This seems as if it would be an easy transition and production process, so, why not?

This is definitely a concept that I think should be pursued. Any chance we get to improve the economy and find better alternatives for fuel should be taken. Spross does a good job go getting his argument across clearly and effectively. After reading his article, I am convinced that using microbes for biofuel is an excellent idea.