Researchers add cow genes to corn to speed up breakdown of corn stover after harvest; would improve cellulosic ethanol process

Researchers at Michigan State Univesity have joined genetic material from cow rumens to the corn genome, in an attempt to stimulate corn stover to convert itself into sugars following harvest into a product that is ready for fermentation.

The cow genetic material allows for the storage of the necessary enzymes into the cell vacuoles until harvest,so that breakdown would commence at the right moment.  Pretreatment is an expensive and costly part of the cellulosic ethanol production process.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

POET researchers find that removing corn cobs from fields for cellulosic ethanol production may improve soil nitrogen, productivity

In South Dakota, POET researchers have found there are "indications that removing corn cobs may be beneficial for growing corn", finding that decomposing cobs may remove soil nitrogen and release chem...

USDA Ag Research Service pioneers technique to speed up selection of cellulose-munching enzymes

In Washington, the Agricultural Research Service arm of the Department of Agriculture has developed an assay technique that reduces the cost and time of identifying enzymes that manufacture alpha-gluc...

Michigan State reports on cover crops, compost as farmers aim to replace corn stover carbon collected for cellulosic ethanol production

Researchers at Michigan State University published a report on carbon augmentation practices for agriculture, with the prospect of corn stover and other agricultural residues being collected for cellu...

POET forms POET Biomass to manage cellulosic feedstock harvest, logistics

In South Dakota, POET announced the creation of POET Biomass, a division of POET devoted to managing harvest and transportation logistics for corn cobs – POET’s cellulosic feedstock – as well as...

POET targets $30 to $60 per ton payments for corn stover; SynGest aims for $50 per ton for renewable ammonia fertilizer plant

In Iowa, POET confirmed that it is targeting payments to farmers of $30 to $60 per ton for corn stover (cobs and stalk), and said that farmers could increase these payments through the Biomass Crop As...

U Georgia researchers develop high-yield, mild pretreatment process for cellulosic ethanol

Researchers at the University of Georgia say that they have developed a milder, faster pretreatment process for cellulosic ethanol production from grasses, woody biomass, and corn stover. The research...