Plant Sensory Systems Awarded $1.8 Million
from ARPA-E to Engineer Beets for Biofuel
The award will support the development of high-output,
low-input energy beets, optimized for biofuel production
Plant Sensory Systems, LLC today announced the award of $1.8
million in funding from the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Research
Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The award will support a three-year program to
develop an enhanced energy (sugar) beet, optimized for biofuel production. The
beets will be engineered to use fertilizer and water more efficiently and
produce higher levels of fermentable sugars compared to current feedstocks. The
new beet crop will have lower production costs and increased yield for biofuels
without competing against food-grade sugar.
“ARPA-E’s support will allow us to accelerate the
development of the enhanced energy beets for biofuel,” said Frank Turano, Plant
Sensory Systems’ Chief Research Officer. “We anticipate a 30% increase in
fermentable sugars which will substantially increase domestic fuel production.
The benefits will be shared by a number of entities in the biofuel supply chain
including beet producers as well as the biorefineries.”
The energy-beet project, headed by Dr. Frank Turano, will be
conducted in collaboration with Dr. Ann Smigocki, a sugar beet research
geneticist at the US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD and economists
at North Dakota State University led by Dr. David Ripplinger. The team will
work closely with ARPA-E to expedite the development and commercialization of
the enhanced beets for biofuel production.
ARPA-E supports transformational research that translates
science into breakthrough energy technologies that are too early for
private-sector investment. Projects are selected through a merit-based process
that is highly competitive. Plant Sensory Systems’ Energy-Beet project was one
of 66 projects selected from thousands of concept papers and hundreds of full
applications.
“The 66 projects selected today represent the true mission
of ARPA-E: swinging for the fences and trying to hit home runs to support
development of the most innovative technologies and change what’s possible for
America’s energy future,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
Plant Sensory Systems’ Energy-Beet project is one such
innovated project whose goals are closely aligned with ARPA-E’s mission. If
successful, the engineered beets will enhance the economic and energy security
of the US by expanding and diversifying the biofuel feedstock in the US and
increasing the biofuel production capacity per acre, and they will reduce
energy-related emissions by requiring less nitrogen fertilizer.
About Plant Sensory Systems
Plant Sensory Systems, LLC is a privately held agricultural
biotechnology company that develops technologies to improve crop performance
for production of food, feed, fiber, biofuel and bio-based products. Plant
Sensory Systems has developed traits that increase yields, improve nitrogen and
water use efficiency, promote tolerance to drought and high temperature, increase
seed oil content for biofuel production, and enhance nutritional value. The
company is located in Baltimore, Maryland at bwtech@UMBC Research and
Technology Park. For more information visit: http://www.plantsensorysystems.com
