BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Scientists of North Carolina State University announced Thursday that they had made progress in developing new sweet potato tubers with a higher starch content that may produce more ethanol per weight than corn.

    Ethanol, produced from corn in the United States, can be used in place of petroleum for some fuels. But high demand for ethanol has led to a jump in corn and other food prices.

    Researchers said that if they can succeed in cutting the production costs, these potatoes will become a better source of ethanol and reduce the biofuel industry's controversial use of corn.

    Craig Yencho, a horticulturalist at the university heading a project to develop alternative uses for the vegetable, said that mechanically planting can cut the production cost in half.

    "Not only would these sweet potatoes be a much more viable ethanol source than corn, but because they are industrial sweet potatoes, we wouldn't be taking away from a food source," said Yencho.

    "These are not your grandmother's sweet potatoes. The industrial sweet potato is edible, but not palatable," added Yencho.

    Yencho explained that the much higher starch content limits the potato's sweetness.

    (Agencies)