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We expect that during the coming decade, the biofuels industry will
expand beyond using corn grain to make ethanol and will begin using
lignocellulosic biomass to make ethanol and other liquid fuels.
Mendel is developing new perennial crops for the lignocellulosic
biofuels industry by both conventional breeding methods and through
the use of advanced technologies that overcome many of the problems
associated with breeding undomesticated perennial plants such as
switchgrass, Miscanthus and poplar. Our goals are to increase the
yield of biomass crops without increasing the input costs.
Additionally, we are developing varieties that are better suited
for processing to fermentable sugars. We are also applying our
technology to produce plants with enhanced biotic and abiotic stress
tolerance.
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