Plant Sensory Systems’ insight into the regulation of metabolic pathways has been used to develop crops with more seed oil. The resulting seeds have more oil compared to control seeds with no significant decrease in seed protein, total seed yield, or germination rates. The product could be used to increase production of plant-based food oil or biodiesel.

The needs to increase energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions have led to the advancement of agriculture-based renewable energy. Biodiesel is an alternative diesel fuel produced from vegetable oil or animal fat. Biodiesel can work in any diesel engine with little to no modification, has less carbon emissions compared to fossil fuel, and has a high net energy gain; that is, more energy is produced than required for production. The biodiesel industry is growing rapidly in the US and is expected to continue growing over the next several years. In the US, soybean oil is the leading feedstock for biodiesel. Other oilseeds such as canola, sunflower and cotton, could also be used for biofuel. Yet even if all oilseeds were to be used for biodiesel the supply would still fall short of the global need. Moreover, as the biodiesel market increases, food prices are expected to increase due to the efflux of seeds into the expanded biofuel market.

Plant Sensory Systems has applied their Metabolic Regulators technology in several oilseed crops to increase seed oil content. The high oil crops will generate an increase in crop productivity per acre, which can help meet the food oil and biodiesel demand.

Please contact Plant Sensory Systems for more information or licensing opportunities.