Genetically modified sugarcane provides a higher yield of sugar and oil. Image source: Shutterstock (#363287201)
Under the Plants Engineered to Replace Oil in Sugarcane and Sweet Sorghum (PETROSS) research product, a team of researchers has genetically engineered sugarcane to produce lipid-cane. The per acre profitability is expected to be five times that of soybeans and twice that of corn. The engineered plant also produces more sugar in comparison to the traditional sugarcane. This sugar can be used for ethanol production. The extracted juice of the modified plant contains about 90% sugar and 60% oil. This juice can be processed further to separate the sugar and oil using a patented method of separation. The project is supported by Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
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