University of Florida researchers look at industrial sweet potato variety as biofuel feedstock

In Florida, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers have found that sweet potato vines, usually thrown out during harvest, can serve well as livestock feed while the roots are an ideal source for biofuel. This could be a key finding for the agriculture industry in Florida and to biofuel needs worldwide. According to a newly published study, an industrial sweet potato variety (CX-1) may do the trick. The study demonstrated CX-1’s value as animal feed and promotes the industrial sweet potato crop as a dual-purpose crop that could be used for both fuel ethanol — from the starchy roots — and nutritious animal feed — from the vines.