Many of the problems associated with first-generation ethanol
can be addressed by its production from non-food crop feedstocks,
which has been termed second-generation ethanol. Low-cost agricultural
and forest residues, wood process wastes, and the organic
fraction of municipal solid wastes can all be used as lignocellulosic
feedstocks. Where these materials are available, it should be
possible to produce ethanol and other chemicals with virtually no
additional land requirements or impacts on food and fiber crop