TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: In treating lignocellulosic material, the material is subjected to microwave radiation over a range of frequencies. The method further comprises measuring the absorption of the applied radiation. Irradiation is ceased when measurement of the absorption indicated that a desired amount of lignin, or all present, has been dissociated. The radiation is applied under conditions such as to encourage, or at least not discourage, the generation of ozone during the dissociation. Ozone is separately generated and added to the reaction. Treatment is carried out under conditions that do not encourage, or that discourage, the generation of acids and other compounds destructive of microorganisms and enzymes used in biofuel or foodstuff production. The treated material is further subjected to another treatment to convert it to a foodstuff such as biofuel or oil from which oilcake and other foodstuff products can be made. The other treatment comprises fermentation or an enzyme treatment. Preferred Apparatus: In the apparatus, the frequency is also such as does not dissociate the glucose core of the lignocellulose material. The microwave generating means comprise a magnetron, and the apparatus comprises transmission means adapted to transmit the microwaves generated thus to a treatment chamber. The transmission means include waveguide means. The apparatus is tunable to deliver microwaves at a given frequency into the chamber, and has a feedback arrangement marinating the microwave frequency at the resonant frequency of the lignin. Feedback arrangement comprises sensor means adapted to sense when maximum power is being absorbed in the chamber. The sensor means comprise temperature measuring means measuring the temperature in the chamber. The feedback arrangement comprises a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control arrangement. The apparatus also comprises ozonizing means, where h the ozonizing means comprise a UV lamp, which may be a low pressure plasma lamp excited by microwave radiation, generating zone-rich air in or supplying it to the treatment chamber. EXAMPLE - No example given.