Genetically Engineered Crops for Biofuel Production: Regulatory Perspectives

Abstract

There are numerous challenges in realizing the potential of biofuels that many policy makers have envisioned. The technical challenges in making the production of biofuels economical and on a scale to replace a significant fraction of transportation fuel have been well described, along with the potential environmental concerns. The use of biotechnology can potentially address many of these technical challenges and environmental concerns, but brings significant regulatory hurdles that have not been discussed extensively in the scientific community. This review will give an overview of the approaches being developed to produce transgenic biofuel feedstocks, particularly cellulosic ethanol, and the regulatory process in the United States that oversees the development and commercialization of new transgenic plants. We hope to illustrate that the level of regulation for transgenic organisms is not proportional to their potential risk to human health or the environment, and that revisions to the regulatory system in the U.S. currently under consideration are necessary to streamline the process.

Ferulic acid: a key component in grass lignocellulose recalcitrance to hydrolysis

“…Although type II cell walls only are found in few orders clustered as commelinoid, these include all cereal crops and perennial grasses (Carpita and McCann, 2000) responding for most of the biomass produced in agriculture (dos Santos et al, 2011). In type II cell walls, GAX intermittently interact with cellulose through hydrogen linkages cross-linking microfibrils (Lee et al, 2008) which contributes with up to 40% of dry weight (Scheller and Ulvskov, 2010). Xyloglucans, pectins and structural proteins are minor compounds, while FA and p-coumaric acid abound.…”

Advanced biofuels: a path to sustainable energy

“…With the aid of molecular biology, immense advancements have been made over the last several decades to enhance microbial activity and enzymes. 32 In order to overcome the limitations of conventional biofuel production, the latest generation of biofuels, the so-called hgeneration biofuels or advanced biofuels, has been considered as an alternative to conventional biofuels. They are based on non-food crops and waste materials, and are renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.…”

“…With the aid of molecular biology, immense advancements have been made over the last several decades to enhance microbial activity and enzymes. 32…”