Ceres and Oregon State University collaborate to enhance carbon sequestration in Poplar
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – September 26, 2005 – Ceres and leading forestry researchers at Oregon State University collaborate on using genomics to enhance biomass-mediated carbon sequestration.
Ceres, along with leading forestry researcher Dr. Steven Strauss of Oregon State University, has been awarded a $1.4M grant from the Department of Energy to use genomics to enhance the ability of poplar trees to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide. The work will focus on increasing carbon sequestration by increasing the net primary production and stress resistance of poplar stands. They will also study how to partition carbon into specific portions of the plant such as roots, and into types of natural plant compounds that are highly resistant to breakdown in the environment.
Poplars, which include cottonwoods and aspens, are considered the model for tree biotechnology and genomics. What is learned about how to improve the sequestering ability in poplars will also guide efforts in other tree species used in forestry and agriculture. Because of their rapid growth and broad adaptation, the U.S. Department of Energy has long considered poplars to be leading candidates for tree farms that can provide sustainable sources of materials and energy.
By combining many novel genes, discovered by Ceres, with the unique features of poplars, which include a complete genome sequence produced by the U.S. Department of Energy, Ceres and Oregon State University expect to make far more progress, far more rapidly, than would be possible in any other tree species.
Plants play an important role in sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide via photosynthesis. Using genomics to enhance this natural ability could help ameliorate the effects of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide on the environment. Furthermore, advances in biotechnology are enabling the development of a carbohydrate economy where fuels and plastics will be sustainably derived from plants in a carbon neutral way, instead of being derived from fossil fuel hydrocarbons such as petroleum.
The research subject of the collaboration is supported by the Office of Science (BER), U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-FG02-05ER64111.
About Ceres
Ceres, Inc. (www.ceres.net), headquartered in Thousand Oaks, CA, is a privately-held plant biotechnology company utilizing cutting-edge genomics technologies to deliver sustainable solutions in energy production, agriculture, human health and nutrition. Ceres utilizes its proprietary genomics technologies including full-length cDNA sequencing, targeted gene activation, high-throughput screening platforms, and plant breeding with trait-linked marker-assisted breeding, to identify and deploy genes and traits required for the production of elite plant varieties and hybrids. Ceres is developing energy crops such as switchgrass, miscanthus and poplar for cellulosic ethanol as well as leveraging its technologies into established multi-billion dollar markets through strategic partnerships. Since 2002, Ceres has been deploying its traits and technologies in certain agricultural crops as part of a multi-year, $137 million license-based agreement with Monsanto.
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