Lignocellulose cost comparison, Petroleum Review, January 2012, p 8

In Canada, a report spearheaded by the University of British Columbia concludes that the production of ethanol from waste paper, cardboard, straw, wood residues and other cellulose--rich materials cannot be achieved at comparable efficiencies and costs as from corn starch and sugarcane. Since these latter compete with food sources, further research is necessary to solve the problems of high cost from the necessary pretreatment of lignocellulose, and the multiple sugars they contain in contrast to the pure glucose comprising corn starch. The situation is complicated by the fact that paper, agricultural wastes and the wood from different species contain many different types of material.