Journal of Energy Bioscience 2024, Vol.15, No.6, 349-357 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/jeb 355 lignocellulosic biomass into bioethanol is not as extensive or developed as that for grain ethanol, which creates logistical barriers (Choudhary et al., 2019). Specialized equipment and facilities are required to handle and process high-fiber maize, which adds an economic burden and makes it less attractive to farmers and biofuel producers. 7.3 Regulatory and public perception challenges in deploying engineered maize Deploying GM high-fiber maize varieties also faces regulatory and public perception challenges. Regulatory frameworks for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) vary by region, and some countries have implemented strict regulations that may delay or prevent the adoption of engineered crops (Infante et al., 2018). Public perception of GMOs remains a controversial issue, with concerns about safety, environmental impacts, and ethical considerations influencing acceptance. These challenges require comprehensive regulatory strategies and public engagement efforts to ensure the successful deployment of high-fiber maize for bioethanol production. 8 Future Perspectives 8.1 Advances in genome editing for next-generation biofuel crops With the application and development of genome editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9, the use of these genome editing tools to precisely modify the corn genome to achieve the goal of improving its biomass yield and digestibility will bring great benefits to the development of high-fiber corn for bioethanol production. Reducing the accumulation of lignin in corn plants through genetic engineering technology has been proven to effectively improve the efficiency of the bioethanol production process (Xie and Peng, 2011; Choudhary et al., 2019), that is, by making the cellulosic biomass in plant materials more accessible to cellulose-degrading bacteria. In addition, by locating the functional sites related to biomass contribution and obtaining the functional regions closely associated with them, molecular marker-based selective methods can be further promoted, thereby accelerating the breeding process of improved new corn varieties suitable for biofuel production (Andorf et al., 2019). 8.2 Potential of integrating bioethanol production with other renewable energy sources The integration of bioethanol production with multiple renewable energy strategies opens up a promising new path for building a more sustainable and resilient energy system. For example, the comprehensive utilization of corn biomass resources to produce bioethanol and biogas simultaneously can effectively improve the energy output efficiency of a single crop resource while making full use of grain residues and lignocellulosic materials (Skoufogianni et al., 2019). Recent advances in biorefining technology have enabled corn biomass to be converted into a variety of bio-based products, covering biofuels, bioplastics, and specialty chemicals, which has not only greatly enriched the application scope of corn, but also significantly enhanced the economic attractiveness of bioethanol production (Maitra and Singh, 2021). Such integrated strategies not only optimize energy efficiency, but also effectively reduce the environmental burden of biofuel production. 8.3 Collaborative efforts for scaling high-fiber maize production globally In order to promote high-fiber corn for bioethanol production worldwide, close collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders is urgently needed. Through the implementation of international breeding programs, we can take full advantage of the genetic differences in corn germplasm from all over the world and cultivate high-quality varieties adapted to specific climate and agricultural conditions (Torres et al., 2015; Munaiz et al., 2021). At the same time, building partnerships between the public and private sectors will accelerate the dissemination of advanced breeding technologies and best management practices, ensuring that these new high-fiber corn varieties can be accessed by farmers around the world. Collaborative research initiatives should also focus on optimizing agricultural management practices and improving bioprocessing technologies to comprehensively enhance the efficiency and sustainability of bioethanol production (Semenčenko et al., 2015). Acknowledgments We are grateful to Mrs. Xuan for critically reading the manuscript and providing valuable feedback that improved the clarity of the text.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==