Competition in Applied Genomics Research in Bioproducts or Crops (ABC):

Microbial Genomics for Biofuels and Co-Products from Biorefining Processes

Lay Summary

There is an urgent need to develop viable, renewable, and sustainable energy systems that can displace global dependence on fossil fuel sources of energy. One leading alternative fuel source is biological production, wherein fuels such as ethanol are produced from a wide variety of agricultural feedstocks and waste streams. As current technologies can use bioethanol without substantial changes (e.g., cars can use ethanol-blended gasoline), biofuels have significant potential to improve sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the short term.

Current production of bioethanol involves microbial fermentation of sugars derived from sugarcane (in Brazil) or the starch from grain (predominantly corn in the US and eastern Canada, and wheat in the prairie provinces of Canada), followed by the distillation of the ethanol from the fermentation broths. However, the long-term viability of grain-based ethanol production is in question because the cost of the feedstocks makes up ~50% of the total costs of production. Ethical questions concerning the use of grain-based agricultural feedstocks for fuel rather than for food have also tempered available market opportunities.

Abundant, low-cost feedstocks are therefore essential for commercial viability of biofuel production. Sources of cellulose-containing biomass (lignocellulosics) are a potential feedstock for synthesis of biofuels, and are typically waste products from forestry (e.g. wood chips) or agricultural (e.g. wheat straw, flax shives, hemp hurds) sources. Notably, biofuels are high-volume, low-value commodities, and processes that produce only ethanol from lignocellulosics display poor economics. One strategy to overcome this limitation is integrate the production of biofuels into a biorefinery that would concurrently synthesize low-volume, high-value co-products, such as high-quality lignin for resins and adhesives, and/or bioplastics. Such biorefinery processes that maximize ethanol generation from the lignocellulose in combination with synthesis of co-products offer greater economic viability.

The focus of this research is on the bacteria that accomplish the conversion of the lignocellulosics to ethanol, hydrogen, and bioplastics. Increasing the economic viability of the biorefining processes depends upon the development of well-characterized cultures of bacteria with specific properties. This requires detailed understanding of both the genomics (genes and their function) and metabolism of both the bacteria that use cellulose to make biofuels and bacteria that synthesize high-value co-products such as bioplastics.

In this research project we will conduct a full genomic characterization of both known and novel bacteria selected for their ability to contribute to the required bioconversion processes. Using detailed data about their genome, proteome and metabolome, we will produce metabolically-engineered bacteria with enhanced biofuel and/or co-product synthesis attributes. Furthermore, we will combine complementary bacterial strains to create “designer consortia” of microorganisms for these industrial applications. These engineered bacteria and designer consortia will allow biorefineries to generate more products (ethanol, hydrogen and co-products) from lower-cost feedstocks (lignocellulosics), thus increasing their economic-viability in the long term.

By capitalizing on our existing strengths, the mission of the proposed research is to establish Canada as an international leader in the production of biofuels and bioplastics. We have assembled a multidisciplinary research team with the combined expertise to accomplish this goal, involving professionals in biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, engineering and political science. The highly qualified personnel trained by this team will expand the much needed pool of scientists and engineers with critical expertise in biotechnology and biofuels, bioethics and social economics. While this research will stimulate the development of made-in-Canada biofuels and co-product technologies, it will also consider the ethical, environmental, legal and economic issues that impact biorefinery processes and market opportunities.