WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. military wants to reduce its dependence on oil to power its aircraft, vehicles, and ships, and is seeking plant-based materials to replace petroleum fuels, according to a report by the United Press International. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has published a request for biodiesel fuels produced from plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria that would be suitable for military use. The current generation of biodiesel fuels does not satisfy the energy density or wide range of temperatures required. According to DARPA, the primary objective of the biofuels program is to “achieve a 60 percent or greater conversion efficiency, by energy content, of crop oil to JP-8 surrogate and elucidate a path to 90 percent conversion.” However, DARPA will not convert aircraft, vehicles, and non-nuclear ships to accept a new fuel. Offerors have one year to deliver 100 liters of JP-8 surrogate biofuel for government laboratory qualification.