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Melbourne, Apr 30 : Researchers in Australia are a step closer to turning plants into “biofactories” capable of producing oils, which they claim can be used to manufacture a wide range of products.

They have achieved the major advance by accumulating 30% of an unusual fatty acid (UFA) in the model plant, Arabidopsis. UFAs are usually sourced from petrochemicals to produce plastics, paints and cosmetics.

According to lead researcher Allan Green, “Using crops as biofactories has many advantages, beyond the replacement of dwindling petrochemical resources. Global challenges such as population growth, climate change, and the switch from non-renewable resources are opening up many more opportunities for bio-based products. Safflower is an ideal plant for industrial production.”

The production of biofactory plants can be matched to demand and will provide farmers with new, high-value crops bred to suit their growing conditions. The technology is low greenhouse gas generating, sustainable and can reinvigorate agribusiness.

“We are confident we have the right genes, an understanding of the biosynthesis pathways and the right breeding skills to produce an oilseed plant with commercially viable UFA levels in the near future.

“Safflower is an ideal plant for industrial production for Australia. It is hardy and easy to grow, widely adapted to Australian production regions and easily isolated from food production systems,” Dr Green said. The study has been presented recently at the AnnualWorld Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing held in Chicago.