Researchers at North Carolina State University used a CRISPR gene-editing system to breed poplar trees with reduced levels of lignin, the major barrier to sustainable production of wood fibers, while improving their wood properties. The findings—published in the journal Science—hold promise to make fiber production for everything from paper to diapers greener, cheaper and more efficient.
Poplars are probably the best way to get a lot of biomass quickly. I doubt hemp is a competitive alternative.
And they’re not engineering a new species of tree, they just modified the trees to reduce the lignin content so the cellulose can be processed easier and less resource intense.
Poplars are probably the best way to get a lot of biomass quickly. I doubt hemp is a competitive alternative.
And they’re not engineering a new species of tree, they just modified the trees to reduce the lignin content so the cellulose can be processed easier and less resource intense.