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NEWS BP invests in Mendel research program Mendel Biotechnology Inc. and Mendel is developing new British Petroleum (BP) are collaboperennial crops for the lignocellurating to develop feedstocks for cellosic biofuels industry through conlulosic biofuels. In addition to fundventional breeding methods and ing a five-year research program, BP through the use of advanced techwill become a shareholder of nologies that overcome many of the Mendel. problems associated with breeding Earlier this year, Mendel undomesticated perennial plants acquired the entire Miscanthus such as switchgrass and Miscanthus. breeding program from German Its goal is to increase the yield of plant science company Tinplant biomass crops without increasing Biotechnik und input costs. Additionally, Mendel is Pflanzenvermehrung GmbH. “The developing varieties that are better funding from BP will enable us to suited to process fermentable sugfully develop that resource,” Mendel ars, and ones that have enhanced President and CEO Neal Gutterson Miscanthus is the focus of much of the Mendel research biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. getting a boost from BP. said. Monsanto Corp. is also working Prior to the acquisition, with Mendel Biotechnology. In the Tinplant Biotechnik spent 15 years develop- to take off, and he predicted Mendel would summer of 2006, Mendel extended its teching Miscanthus transplants for the local and be ready. “We will have material that can be nology collaboration with Monsanto for an European markets. Now, Gutterson said propagated for transplants in the short additional five-year period through the end Mendel will be using its material to develop run,” he added. of 2011, regarding certain large-acreage Mendel is also collaborating with crops and vegetables. Mendel also has a Miscanthus for the United States market, moving away from vegetative propagation researchers in China to gather Miscanthus number of partnerships with leading comwith transplants. “In the long term, we think germplasm from native growing areas in panies in crops such as ornamentals, turf the economics will push it toward the seed east Asia. “We will also be working on and forestry. business,” he explained. Gutterson said it switchgrass, and in the long term I think -Susanne Retka Schill will be the middle of the next decade before there will be a place for annual crops, so we the market for cellulosic feedstocks is ready will be looking at sorghum,” Gutterson said.
ArborGen, others work to sequence Eucalyptus genome The scientific effort to sequence the Eucalyptus genome is bringing together over 20 different institutions from around the world. The project will be led by the U.S. DOE’s Joint Genome Institute and the Summerville, S.C., research firm ArborGen LLC. Along with its New Zealand-based shareholder Rubicon Ltd., ArborGen is providing access to a private library of nearly 240,000 Eucalyptus sequences for this effort. This fast-growing, high-yield hardwood is cultivated commercially in many parts of the world to produce pulp and paper. ArborGen said Eucalyptus is also considered to be an ideal cellulosic ethanol feedstock. A native of Australia, the Eucalyptus genus includes 700 species and some of the fastest-growing woody plants in the world. -Nicholas Zeman
A native of Australia, the Eucalyptus family includes over 700 species and some of the fastest-growing varieties in the world. 9|2007 BIOMASS MAGAZINE 13