Many biofuel production processes currently in use pivot on the conversion of cellulose into ethanol. The main function of a typical biofuel feedstock is to simply provide cellulosic biomass that can be broken down and utilized for this purpose. This process sounds easier in principle than it is in reality, though, so the biofuel industry is constantly seeking out tricks and tools that will expedite the break-down of cellulose into ethanol producing sugars.

Research coming out of a small company named Agrivida is providing just this kind of technology. Utilizing funds from the USDA and Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program, Agrivida has been working on identifying proteins that will more rapidly break down cellulose into the sugars that can be used to produce ethanol. The company’s approach is particularly innovative because the effective enzymes, when they are identified, are inserted into plants to create a sort of internal “kill switch”—when the plant is harvested, the enzymes that have been imbedded in the plant tissue begin the breaking-down process of the plant’s cellulose molecules. This allows for more cellulose to be broken down faster and more efficiently, an advance that will ideally make cellulosic biofuel production more economically viable.

Agrivida has tested over 600,000 enzymes within this year alone and over 2 million enzymes since the research was started. As of now, ten engineered enzymes have been produced by the company, and this fall they plan to release three enzymes for use in corn crops. While the number of helpful enzymes may seem impractically low, this research represents an advance in the biofuel industry that will surely make waves in the near future.

Discussion Question: There is considerable skepticism regarding the beneficence of genetically engineered crops like those that will utilize the enzymes produced by Agrivida. Do you think it is a good idea to pursue advancements in the biofuel industry through genetic engineering? Why or why not?

News Article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20063950-54.html
Research Article: http://www.agrivida.com/technology/technology.html