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Engineered High Energy Crops
Engineered High Energy Crops (EHEC) are plants specifically engineered for increased energy production. EHEC are:
 * Agriculturally-viable photosynthetic species that contain genetic material that has been intentionally introduced through biotechnology, interspecific hybridization, or other engineering processes (excluding processes that occur in nature without human intervention), and
 * Intended to produce more energy per acre by producing fuel molecules that can easily be introduced into existing energy infrastructure.

Potential Benefits and Impacts and of EHECs:
EHECs present a high-potential renewable energy source that, by virtue of biological carbon capture, has a reduced carbon lifecycle that decreases greenhouse gas production and allows for domestic production of renewable fuels. EHECs can also increase economic activity in agricultural areas. EHECs may also pose potential risk to the environment as noxious weeds, and may compete indirectly with other agricultural crops.

Production Traits

 * Growth on non-arable or marginal land (poor soil type, high erosion)
 * Low input requirements (land, water, fertilizer, pesticides)
 * High tolerance to environmental and biotic stress
 * Efficient methods for genetic transformation
 * Inexpensive to grow (seed vs. vegetative establishment)
 * Harvestable with existing farm equipment
 * Perennial with good longevity or annual that can be included in crop rotations

Processing Traits

 * High total dry matter yield (low water content at harvest)
 * High energy density biological feedstock that can be easily converted into fuel
 * Can be easily transported and stored before or after harvest
 * Low mineral content
 * Low VOC emissions during harvest
 * Low physiological ash at time of harvest
 * Compatibility with existing production, harvesting, distribution, and storage infrastructure

Environmental Traits

 * Non-invasive with low risk of gene flow to wild relatives
 * Favorable as wildlife habitat and a positive contributor to biodiversity
 * Minimal additional fire hazard risk
 * Does not use substantial amounts of high-value agricultural inputs such as premium land, excessive fertilizer, or large volumes of irrigation.

Examples of Potential EHECs:

 * Agave
 * Basin Wildrye
 * Bull Rush
 * Camelina
 * Energy Beet
 * Energy Cane
 * Eucalyptus
 * Giant Cane
 * Giant Reed
 * Guayule
 * Jatropha
 * Miscanthus
 * Napiergrass
 * Pine
 * Poplar
 * Reed Canarygrass
 * Sainfoin
 * Salicornia
 * Sorghum
 * Spruce
 * Switchgrass
 * Willow