``As you know, I’ve been a supporter of biofuels,’’ Obama told a group of newspaper editors in Washington, DC.

``I think it is an important ingredient in our over energy independence. I’ve also said that it was important for us to transition to the next generation of biofuels. We have to do a much better job of developing cellulosic ethanol.’’

Obama added: `` So our challenge, I think, is to see our current ethanol technology as a bridge to the biofuels technologies of the future.