Agriculture is the number one industry in the state of Missouri with farmland accounting for 66% of the state’s total land use. Prior to the industrial revolution, the primary energy input for agriculture was the sun. Photosynthesis enabled plants to grow, and plants served as food for livestock, which provided fertilizer and muscle power for farming. However, as a result of the industrialization and consolidation of agriculture, food production has become increasingly dependent on energy derived from fossil fuels.
With corn and soybeans being among Missouri’s top crops, the state is prime territory for manufacture of biofuels – fuels derived from biomass or other organic matter. Biofuels play a significant role in Missouri’s economy.