As a congressman, senator and vice president, he worked relentlessly toward creating disincentives to the development, testing and use of innovative, safe and potentially important technologies--especially biotechnology applied to agriculture, which has been instrumental in enhancing yields, reducing losses from pests and encouraging farming practices that prevent carbon dioxide release from tilling soil.

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But scientists aren't sure no-till really sequesters carbon any better than conventional farming.

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If successful, the firm believes this type of system could form part of a new approach to sustainable farming, making use of urban greenbelts while helping to reduce the carbon footprint associated with food production -- which accounts for up to 30% of total emissions worldwide, according to a 2008 Greenpeace report.

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So whatever carbon benefit biofuels do produce should be reduced by the amount released by new farming.

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