15 Oct 2003
A-Maizing

I got some bad news for these fellas: the entire corn plant has always been useful! Let's see, grain, obviously. The so-called "stover" is used (by smart farmers anyway, not those running food factories) as forage for livestock - and they have the "powerful enzymes" built right in to turn a stalk of corn into [leather] lingerie ... and ethanol has been distilled for centuries from the grain - is it really that "new" to be able to add some amount from another part of the plant to this process? How is this "news", except in the fact that it seems to cut Mother Nature out of the equation for our sustanance? Is that supposed to be a good thing?

Reaping and Sewing From Corn. Scientists are developing a biochemical process that for the first time converts the entire corn plant into useful materials. Powerful new enzymes help turn corn stalks and grains into lingerie or cheaper ethanol. By John Gartner. [Wired News]

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