Growing tobacco as fuel and food

Of the five major types of tobacco, Burley tobacco generally contains the highest nicotine levels compared to other tobacco varieties, and it has an alkaline pH. Flue-cured tobacco represents the major tobacco ingredient in American cigarettes. In comparison with other tobacco varieties, flue-cured tobacco has a medium nicotine content and is somewhat acidic. Maryland tobacco has a low nicotine content in comparison with other varieties and has an alkaline pH. The Dark tobaccos produce an alkaline smoke, and are the traditional tobaccos for cigar wrappers and fillers as well as for chewing tobacco and for many pipe tobacco mixtures. Oriental tobaccos, cultivated in southeastern Europe and Turkey, are used for their characteristic aroma; they have a low nicotine content, and low pH.400.

The Energy Social Inventions Award 1993 of the Institute for Social Inventions went to a grower and promoter of tobacco biomass. His book-length report describes how tobacco can be used to provide low cost renewable fuels -- biogas or fuel-grade ethanol -- plus high quality food grade protein as a by-product.