Biofuel Opportunities in Pearl Millet

Global warming and associated environmental pollution, and volatile crude oil prices have boosted major consumers across the world to sharply focus on green fuels. Global biofuel consumption is expected to rise further, mainly driven by higher blending targets in developing countries. Bioethanol from biomass sources is one of the important fuels that can be used as a fossil fuels’ substitute for road transport vehicles. Millets including pearl millet can be used as an efficient source for bioethanol production. Pearl millet is a crop suitable for cultivation in marginal soils of arid and semi-arid tracts where no other cereal crop is preferred. The use of pearl millet is increasing in poultry and animal feed, as fodder, and as roofing material and in brewing industry. Among various lignocellulosic biomasses available for cellulosic ethanol production, pearl millet serves as one of the ideal feedstocks for bioethanol production. This chapter reviews the attributes that make pearl millet a potential biofuel and bioenergy crop and the ways and means for promoting the crop as an efficient feedstock for biofuel production.