File photo
File photo
A new genetically engineered crop being developed at Illinois State University has the potential to produce 1,500 pounds of plant matter per acre and 60 gallons of plant oil per acre.
The plant, pennycress, has been genetically modified by a team of researchers including Illinois State University genetics professor John Sedbrook, according to WGLT. Sedbrook said that the genetically modified pennycress products can be turned into animal feed and biofuel – including biodiesel and bio jet fuel.
He also said that pennycress can be a winter crop, serving a dual purpose to both control erosion and still provide income for farmers from fields that would otherwise lie unused, according to WGLT.
“Because we know what’s happening in both Arabidopsis and canola, we can literally copy and paste that information into the pennycress genome,” researcher Michaela McGin said. “Making those targeted edits and then producing a canola covercress.”
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Illinois) said $20 million in federal funding for the project began approximately a year ago.
“For those who are studying ag right now at ISU and pennycress, your future is very bright,” Davis said. “This is just one of those opportunities to be able to work with state officials and our local university officials, to do things that are going to benefit this country. Not just Illinois, but this country and world, substantially in the future.”
U.S. Rep. Darin Lahood (R-Illinois) said that pennycress offers environmental benefits in its use.
“When you look at pennycress, it has a significant effect on the environment and how it helps the environment,” Lahood said. “With the fuel that’s created, we learned about the aviation biofuel industry and how fuel from pennycress can be applicable to that.”
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