Abstract
This chapter focuses on the comparative analyses of petroleum and plant feedstocks (i.e. maize, sugarcane, cotton, flax and tobacco), environmental and health concerns of petroleum use, consumer acceptance of petrochemical-derived products, the plant-based industry's impact on the rural economy and agriculture sustainability, common crops for food and non-food uses, complexity of selecting feedstock crops, potentials and challenges of new crops for industrial uses, sustainable supply chain and primary product and co-products of value. The research needs and accomplishments for feedstock yield and quality, postharvest and processing and new product development and commercialization are also discussed.