1.2
Photosynthesis and biofuels
Keywords
Biomass, platform chemicals, biofuels, photosynthesis,
water efficiency
Expertise
Certain crops, such as maize and sugarcane, use
enhanced or ‘super-charged’ forms of photosynthesis to
achieve high yields. Other plants, including pineapple,
vanilla and agave (used to produce alcoholic drinks and
sisal fibre) use another form of ‘low-water’ photosynthesis
which allows them to grow productively using much less
water. These plants have great potential as biomass
crops suited to seasonally dry lands where the world’s
major food crops such as wheat and rice will not
grow productively.
The University’s research focuses on genomics, bio-
chemistry and the physiology of these high-yield and
water-efficient crops to identify molecular tools to
improve the crops and engineer these photosynthetic
characteristics into other crop species. Parallel studies are
investigating how to convert sugars from agave into novel
materials such as bioplastics, organic chemicals and
alternative biofuels.
Our expertise in engineered photosynthesis can be
applied to develop new, biotechnology-based solutions
for more sustainable agriculture. Crops can also be
exploited as ‘living factories’ for biomass, biofuels and
specialist chemicals or bulk chemical feedstocks.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Genome sequencing and analysis to discover
molecular markers for crop breeding and engineering
•
State-of-the-art facilities for plant growth and
manipulation
•
Phenotypic analysis of new crops, germplasm and
varieties
•
Facilities for high-throughput materials
discovery and characterisation
•
Extraction of biomass constituents and
optimisation of biomass conversion to platform
chemicals.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy
•
Centre for Genomic Research
•
Centre for Materials Discovery.
Energy & Sustainability
70
Also see:
Food Security & Safety –
1.2
Crop production, page 131
Materials, Advanced Design &
Manufacturing –
4.4
High-throughput materials
discovery, page 104
Higher-yield and more
robust crops can feed
the growing population
and provide renewable
energy in the face of
climate change. Our work
underpins the sustainable
agricultural production
of both biomass for bio-
energy and platform
chemical applications
as well as food to feed the
growing population in the
face of climate change.
For further information
on all our specialist
centres, facilities and
laboratories
go to page
179
