**3.2 Potential prospects for promoting the adoption of corn as a biofuel crop among farmers**

As the biofuel crops provide economic opportunities, environmental sustainability and promotes climate resilience as well as diversified agricultural systems. It is a need of an hour to promote the biofuel crops among farmers. Growing corn as a biofuel crop offers vast opportunities for farmers in income diversification, access to stable markets, value-added production, improved soil health, adoption of conservation practices, government support, and contribution to energy independence [30]. Therefore, it makes corn an important and feasible option for farmers interested in sustainable and economically viable agriculture. The potential prospects for promoting the adoption of corn as a biofuel crop among farmers are as follows.

#### *3.2.1 Educational and skill Upgradation programs*

The international conference on research and educational opportunities in biofuel crop production highlighted the importance of education and skill development in bio-fuel crop production to harness the opportunities of entrepreneurship, processing and value addition in the biofuel supply chains among the farmers for income diversification with alternative energy resources [30].

#### *3.2.2 Incentives*

Luring the stakeholders with financial incentives such as tax credits, grants, and subsidies to who grow corn for biofuel could be an immediate way but sensitizing the growers to cut down ecological and social cost of production will an ultimate aim for the policy makers to enhance the production as it was achieved in microalgae biofuel production [31].

#### *3.2.3 Advancing market*

The marketing sphere of biofuel can be innovatively invented as biofuel shares the potential interaction with food market which is responsible for price hike of food products. Contrary, biofuel production can be serves as potent solution for the food waste and play important role in low carbon economy. These possibilities can

*Corn for Biofuel: Status, Prospects and Implications DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.112227*

be utilized by manufacturers and distributors to develop markets for corn-based biofuels, which can increase demand and provide farmers with a stable market for their crops.

#### *3.2.4 Demonstration trails*

The exposure with benefits of growing corn as biofuel as well as provide handson training and support for farmers can increase the adoption of this technology among them. As study revealed the robust result in knowledge generation through pilot and demonstration plant on advancing the biofuel innovations in European Union [32].

#### *3.2.5 Extension services*

For the production of biofuel crops such as switchgrass, sweet sorghum, miscanthus, soybean, and elephant grass or from micro-algae government provide support program and assistance along with economic incentives [33].

#### *3.2.6 Research and Development*

Investment in research for identifying new varieties and efficient management techniques which can be better suited for corn as biofuel production, along with the development of more effective processing methods can foster the adoption of this magical crop as biofuel among farmers. Similar, initiatives had been taken by China for enhancing the adoption of biofuel sugarcane.

#### *3.2.7 Farmer-to-farmer learning*

To foster the adoption of biofuel corn the farmer-to-farmer learning networks must be expanded where experienced farmers can share their knowledge and experience with other farmers [34].

#### *3.2.8 Collaborations*

For the sustainable transportation of palm biofuel, an international collaboration was done between Malaysia and Colombia. Similar collaborations can with agricultural organizations such as farm bureaus and commodity groups to promote the benefits of growing corn for biofuel.

#### *3.2.9 Social influence*

Encourage farmers and stakeholders who have successfully adopted corn as a biofuel crop to serve as advocates and role models for other farmers [35].

#### *3.2.10 Public relations and marketing*

Develop public relations and marketing campaigns to raise awareness of the benefits of corn-based biofuels can encourage the farmers to adopt this.
