First generation biofuels are made from edible components of food crops while second generation biofuels are processed from agriculture and forestry wastes or from non food, cellulosic biomass crops. During the next decade, we have the opportunity to develop sustainable biosystems to produce higher yield, non food, biomass crops grown on saline lands with poor quality irrigation water for biofuels in Australia. Demand for food crops (cereal grains, oilseeds, sugarcane) grown on arable lands for first generation biofuels in America and elsewhere is outstripping supply and leading to high global food prices, low world grain reserves and pending famine problems.

Recent research by South Australian Research & Development Institute (SARDI) and its industry partners has shown Arundo donax (Adx), a non food crop, has potential to produce high biomass yields (45.2 t/ha/year of oven dry tops) when grown on saline land with saline winery wastewater-in a drought year at Barmera, SA. Our results indicated that Adx can be classified as a halophyte due to its tolerance to salinity of up to 25 dS/m (or 250 mM) in the soil water solution for prolonged periods. Traditional research priorities and investment are inadequate to develop non food, high yielding biomass crops for biofuels in sustainable biosystems using saline land and wastewater in Australia. A new national focus and funding for research on non food, second generation biomass crops for cellulosic feedstocks for biofuels is needed to facilitate new pathways to prosperity for Australian rural industries and communities.