Plant genetic research and development company FuturaGene (AIM: FGN) is set to accelerate the development of its proprietary draught and salt tolerance gene in poplar trees with another complementary project at Purdue university in the US, which has secured funding from the Consortium for Plant Biochemistry Research following a grant selection process.
The company, which is focused on global forestry, biofuel and agricultural markets, said the aim of the research was to improve drought and salt tolerance of short-rotation poplar, which would adapt these trees to more environmentally stressful conditions and enable them to grow on marginal lands for large-scale production.
The plant has become widely accepted as a potential source of biomass for use in renewable energy as woody biomass is becoming an attractive alternative to fossil fuels as it produces fewer emissions, mitigates global climate change and can increase national energy security.
As cellulose-to-ethanol technologies are set to mature over the next few years, poplar is expected to become an important source for liquid biofuels.
“Poplar is now widely accepted as a fast growth short rotation crop which is carbon neutral and can be used for energy production by combustion. The project, which complements others we have around the world, aims to develop the tree for large scale planting on land which is unsuitable for food or feedstuff production, frequently because of drought or saline levels,” said Chief Executive of FuturaGene.
Richard Meilan, which leads the project at the Purdue University, said that poplar would be a key bio-energy crop worldwide and would have direct commercial applicability.
The knowledge gained from the research is also expected to be transferrable to other bio-energy crops.
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