The U.S. Department of Energy is investing tens of millions of dollars to determine the basic functions of specific plants' genes as part of its pursuit to develop sustainable sources of energy, fuel and products.
The DOE made the announcement Dec. 20 on its website. The announcement states $30 million will be provided for relevant research on how genes affect a plant's ability to survive and thrive in less than ideal conditions. Applications will be open to universities, industry, and nonprofit research institutions, which will take the lead in the research and then collaborate with DOE laboratories and other federal agencies, according to the announcement.
“Understanding the functional roles of genes for critical plant processes will help us gain a predictive understanding of plant performance under adverse environmental conditions,” DOE Associate Director of Science for Biological and Environmental Science Sharlene Weatherwax said in the announcement.
“These advances, in turn, could enable development of plants for bioenergy and byproducts that are productive on land unsuitable for traditional agricultural crops, improving our energy security and environmental stewardship.”
The DOE states that by learning how the individual parts of a plant function can lead to production of those plant species best suited to "have the potential to play a significant role in the emerging bioeconomy as an alternative source of renewable feedstocks," the DOE states.
Funding plans is for the $30 million to be allocated over three years. Outyear funding will be determined based on congressional appropriations, according to the DOE announcement.
