For such a bulk product, any imp rovements , espe-cially in its maj or ferm entation techno logi es, will be
econom ically very attr active. In practice, the R&D in
ethano l ferm entation, especi ally using lignocell ulosic
biomass to repla ce current sugar an d star ch feedstocks,
has never been interrupte d since the shock of the crude
oil crisis in the 1970s, exce pt for a slowdow n in the
1980s and 19 90s when the price of crude oil was low er,
and the econom ic prospe ct of fuel ethano l seem ed to be
less prom ising