Biorefineries could access up to 60% more sugar using the same amount of feedstock by suppressing a gene for stiffening cell walls, said a study from Brazilian, American and British researchers. The research has seen feruloylation cut by around 20% in plants genetically modified to suppress the gene. Ferulic acid is found naturally as an essential component of many plants, including bananas, tomatoes and potatoes. "In Brazil alone, the potential markets for this technology were valued last year at R$1300M ($400M) for biofuels," says Hugo Molinari, Principal Investigator of the Laboratory of Genetics and Biotechnology at Embrapa Agroenergy, part of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the team's co-leader. The technology was valued at R$1300M ($400M) in Brazil in 2017, with potential savings including less need for enzymes for refining catalysis.
Biorefineries could access up to 60% more sugar using the same amount of feedstock by suppressing a gene for stiffening cell walls, said a study from Brazilian, American and British researchers. The research has seen feruloylation cut by around 20% in plants genetically modified to suppress the gene. Ferulic acid is found naturally as an essential component of many plants, including bananas, tomatoes and potatoes. The technology was valued at R$1300M ($400M) in Brazil in 2017, with potential savings including less need for enzymes for refining catalysis.