EU project reveals economic potential of plants as raw materials
Plants could provide alternative sources of raw materials for energy, fuel and everyday products in as little as 10 to 15 years, according to a new series of reports from the EU-funded EPOBIO project. We rely on oil in countless applications - as fuel for transport and heating and in the plastics which make up so many every day objects. Yet oil is a finite resource, and as concerns grow about security of supply and oil's environmental impacts, the hunt is on for an alternative. The EPOBIO project aims to realise the economic potential of plant-derived raw materials by designing new generations of bio-based products derived from plant raw materials. 'Two key threats to society are our dependence on finite fossil fuels and climate change,' said Professor Dianna Bowles, the EPOBIO Project Director. 'Plants have the potential to provide us with everything now made using petroleum. In this way, we can create a sustainable society for the future and address immediate concerns such as rising energy costs, security of supply and our impact on the environment.' The reports look at three areas where plant-based products offer the greatest benefits to society and could be achieved in the next 10 to15 years, namely plant oils, plant cell walls and biopolymers, and highlight the research needed to further develop these technologies. The plant oils paper looks at the potential of producing lubricants from plants. Plant oils have similar structures and properties to mineral oils and can be used as alternatives to them in many applications. Until now their development has been limited by the high cost of extraction, but as mineral oils become more expensive, an alternative is urgently needed. According to the researchers, the production of wax esters from the plant Crambe abyssinica could become viable in Europe. C. abyssinica does not require large inputs of water and fertilisers and the process could be rendered more efficient if the parts of the plant left over from oil production were used to produce energy for the production process. In this way C. abyssinica could provide a sustainable supply of lubricants for use in engine, transmission and hydraulic fluids. The second paper focuses on biorefineries. With biorefineries, plants could be processed to create biofuels, power, chemicals, materials and fibres which are currently based on oil. However, for this to become a reality, researchers need to understand how to release the sugars which are locked into plants' cell walls. As plant cell walls have evolved to resist attack from mechanical or chemical forces or microbial attack, this is a major barrier to the further development of biorefinery technologies. The third paper looks at the use of biopolymers as an alternative to rubber. Natural rubber, from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis, is used in around 40,000 household applications, and also has industrial applications such as in heavy duty tyres for trucks and aeroplanes. However, demand for natural rubber is predicted to outstrip supply by 25% by 2020, a problem which is exacerbated by a fungal disease which has all but ended natural rubber production in South America. Allergies to latex are also on the increase. The researchers identify the rubber producing shrub guayule as an alternative source of rubber. Guayule is well suited to growing in the semi-arid areas of southern Europe and requires little in the way of inputs. Further research is needed to improve its rubber yield. The researchers note that using plants in these new ways will contribute to a number of EU policy objectives, including greenhouse gas emission targets, biofuel use targets and sustainable development. It will also provide the agricultural sector with alternative sources of income, while processing activities will support rural development.