Short answers, pulled from the story.
Biofuel is a fuel produced over a short time span from biomass, rather than by the very slow natural processes that form fossil fuels such as oil. It can be made from plants or from agricultural, domestic, or industrial bio waste, and is regarded as a renewable energy source.
The two most common types of biofuel are bioethanol and biodiesel. Bioethanol is an alcohol made by fermentation of sugar or starch crops, while biodiesel is produced from oils or fats using transesterification.
The United States is the largest producer of bioethanol, while the EU is the largest producer of biodiesel. Brazil produces and uses large amounts of bioethanol in vehicles, including some flex-fuel cars available only in Brazil.
The food versus fuel debate concerns biofuels made from food crops competing with food production. Up to 40% of corn produced in the United States is used to make ethanol, and worldwide 10% of all grain is turned into biofuel.
By 2017, due to economic considerations, most efforts to produce fuel from algae had been abandoned or changed to other applications. Algae production requires large amounts of energy and fertilizer, and the infrastructure and energy costs were shown to exceed the benefits provided.
By 2027, worldwide biofuel production is expected to supply 5.4% of the world's fuels for transport, including 1% of aviation fuel. Global demand for biofuels is predicted to increase by 56% over 2022-2027.
The European Commission has officially approved a measure to phase out palm oil-based biofuels by 2030. Unsustainable palm oil agriculture had caused significant environmental and social problems, including deforestation and pollution.