Watch the presentation of forest biotechnology and the BioImprove program by Hannele Tuominen on TV , April 5th 2012

Umeå Renewable Energy meeting was organised for the fourth time in Umeå

”Genetic modification of feedstocks is needed to increase renewable energy sources on earth“ was one of the conclusions made by Sven Kullander who represented the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences at the Umeå Renewable Energy meeting that took place in March 14-16 in Umeå. During the meeting several different research projects were presented that can provide new sources of renewable energy and improve efficiency of exploiting these sources. Professor Kenneth Keegstra from Michigan State University, USA, presented initiatives taken at the Great Lakes Bioenergy center, financed by Department of Energy,  to improve properties of feedstocks for efficient extraction of lignocellulosic sugars. One of the ideas is to incorporate novel types of lignin molecules into the lignocellulose in order increase the extractability of the feedstocks for production of green chemicals such as biofuels. Angela Karp from Rothamstedt Research, UK, presented another large research project, the Perennial Bioenergy Crops Programme, which is one of six research programs within the BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre,  and which aims at feedstock improvement in angiosperm trees like willow and grasses like Miscanthus.  Richard Murphy, Kings College London, presented further work within the same centre on socioeconomic aspects of biofuel production using life cycle analyses. See information about the other presentations and the full program of the meeting here.