Colorado State University (CSU)

More Options for Bioenergy Crops

Transportation Fuels

Transportation

Program:
OPEN 2012

Award:
$1,576,999

Location:
Fort Collins, Colorado

Status:

ALUMNI

Project Term:
04/04/2013 - 10/03/2015

Website:

http://www.colostate.edu

Technology Description:

Colorado State University (CSU) is developing technology to rapidly introduce novel traits into crops that currently cannot be readily engineered. Presently, a limited number of crops can be engineered, and the processes are not standardized – restricting the agricultural sources for engineered biofuel production. More—and more diverse—biofuel crops could substantially improve the efficiency, time scale, and geographic range of biofuel production. CSU’s approach would enable simple and efficient engineering of a broad range of bioenergy crops using synthetic biology tools to standardize their genetic modification.

Potential Impact:

If successful, CSU’s synthetic gene circuits could widen the variety of plants that could be utilized for biofuels production, which would greatly increase the ability to yield high volumes of domestic biofuels.

Security:

Increased production of domestic biofuels could help the U.S. diversify our fuel production, reducing our dependence on foreign nations for our energy security.

Environment:

Because plants naturally absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels are less than half that of petroleum fuels. Biological carbon fixation through photosynthesis reverses the combustion process.

Economy:

Biofuels can be produced domestically, allowing us to keep more dollars at home.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:

Dr. Joe Cornelius

Project Contact:

Prof. June Medford

Press and General Inquiries Email:

ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov

Project Contact Email:

june.medford@colostate.edu

Related Projects

Release Date:

03/02/2012

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