First scientists turned corn into ethanol. Now they think sugarcane and sorghum might be a future source of diesel and jet fuel.

Researchers at the University of Illinois will lead a study aimed at boosting the natural oil-producing capabilities of sugarcane and sorghum.

U of I Professor Stephen Long will lead the initiative that will include researchers from the University of Florida, the University of Nebraska and the Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Long says sugarcane and sorghum spend much of their energy making sugars. But scientists hope they can engineer plants that make oils instead.

The natural plant oils then could be converted into diesel and jet fuel through a chemical process.

Long says sugarcane and sorghum could produce more than 10 times more oil per acre than canola and soybeans.