TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: In (M1), the moderate conditions comprise two conditions chosen from a temperature from about 10degreesC to about 90degreesC, a pressure less than about 2 atm, and a pH between about pH 4.0 and about pH 10.0. The chemical comprises an oxidizing agent chosen from hydrogen peroxide, urea hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, a superoxide, potassium superoxide, hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid, chlorine, nitric acid, peroxyacid, peroxyacetic acid, persulfate, percarbonate, permanganate, osmium tetraoxide, chromium oxide, and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate or denaturants, detergents, organic solvents, bases, or their combinations. (M1) further involves subjecting the lignocellulose to at least one physical treatment chosen from grinding, milling, boiling, freezing, and vacuum filtration. The moderate conditions comprise a temperature of about 80degreesC and a pH of about pH 5.0. The contact occurs for about 24 hours. The enzyme comprises at least one enzyme chosen from cellulase, xylanase, ligninase, amylase, glucuronidase, protease, and lipase. The temperature and pH is adjusted to be optimal for the enzyme prior to enzyme addition. The chemical is removed prior to addition of the enzyme. (M1) further involves removing the chemical from the treated lignocellulose prior to additional treatment to obtain a recycled chemical. In (M1), the step of contacting the lignocellulose with at least one chemical occurs simultaneously with contacting the lignocellulose with at least one enzyme capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose. (M1) further involves the addition of at least one fermenting organism, where the method results in the production of at least one fermentation-based product. The product is chosen from the lactic acid, a fuel, an organic acid, an industrial enzyme, a pharmaceutical, and an amino acid. In (M1), the chemical is optionally a compound capable of generating oxygen radicals. (M1) preferably involves contacting the lignocellulose with a base at a pH of about 9.0 to about 14.0 to generate a treated lignocellulose, and contacting the treated lignocellulose with at least one enzyme capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose. The base is sodium carbonate or potassium hydroxide. (M3) further involves contacting the treated plant material with at least one enzyme capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose. The plant material comprises at least one enzyme capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose. The plant material comprises at least one plant that has been genetically engineered to express at least one enzyme capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose. (M3) further involves incubating the plant material under conditions that allow expression of the enzyme capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose prior to contacting the plant material with the chemical. The plant material comprises at least one plant that has been genetically engineered to express the substance. EXAMPLE - Corn stover (2.0 g) was mixed with hydrogen peroxide (0.1%) in 10 ml of water. After 24 hours of incubation at 80degreesC, the pH was adjusted to 5.0 and 50 mg of cellulase from Trichoderma reesei was added and incubated for 24 hours at 65degreesC. The reducing sugar content of the hydrolyzate was then determined by DNS assay. Next, the hydrolyzate was adjusted to pH 7.0, filter-sterilized, and added to a carbon-free minimal growth media (M63) to produce a final sugar concentration of 5%. Control growth media was prepared by adding 5% glucose to media without sugar. Bacterial cells (Escherichia coli) were added to each medium, incubated with shaking at 37degreesC, and the growth were monitored through 48 hours by measuring the absorbance of each medium at 600 nm. Hydrolyzates of the method caused high levels of E.coli growth (2.1%). The results indicate that hydrolyzates from the method allow greater microbial growth than glucose. The hydrolyzates were not toxic to E.coli, even as undiluted hydrolyzates. The hydrolyzate produced by hydrogen peroxide treatment and cellulase treatment was diluted into M63 to produce a final sugar concentration ranging from 0.0% to 1.0%. Control growth media were prepared with the same final sugar concentration of glucose and xylose (ratio of 63:37). Bacterial cells (E.coli XL1 MRF') were added to each medium, incubated with shaking at 37degreesC, and the growth were quantified at 48 hours by absorbance at 600 nm. Microbial growth was greater in the hydrolyzate media than in control media produced with glucose and xylose.