Genetic Modification of Plant Cell Walls for Enhanced Biomass Production and Utilization

Introduction In 2002, The US Department of Energy released a document entitled “The Vision for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the US” that envisioned 5% of energy, 20% of transportation fuel and 25% of chemicals being derived from biomass by 2030. A crucial factor in reaching these goals will be the net productivity of the plants used. It is generally accepted that the current practice of converting excess starch production to ethanol does not represent a significant long-term opportunity. By contrast harvesting the “cellulosic biomass” that comprises the body of plants represents an attractive target. A recent study by DOE and USDA estimated that there is approximately 1.4 billion dry tons per year of renewable excess biomass capacity in the US. This is roughly equivalent to the energy content of all imported petroleum.