New enzymes developed by USDA’s Agricutlural Research Service could help boost ethanol production.

Researchers at the agency’s Cereal Crops Research Unit at Madison, Wis., “have designed three heat-loving barley enzymes that perform exceptionally well at temperatures hovering above 70 degrees Celsius, or about 160 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Thanks to their distinctive heat tolerance, these barley enzymes can yield up to 30 percent more sugar than enzymes found in conventional barley lines. More sugar means more fermentable product for brewing beer—and more sugar for converting into ethanol-based fuels.

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