Plant Oils as Fuels: Present State of Science and Future Developments

Among renewable energy resources, Biodiesel fuel made from rapeseed is of special importance in Europe. Economical, technological, ecological and toxicological arguments have been advanced implying that, at present, Biodiesel is at best just a "niche" product that can only compete with traditional fossil diesel fuel because of significant tax incentives. Given the present state of knowledge in these very different areas, the decisive question to be asked is whether the competitiveness, and thus marketability, of Biodiesel can be enhanced by biotechnological manipulations of the rape plant.