Specialty Compounds

Plants as Natural Factories for Production of Specialty Compounds

With the recognized long term need to reduce fossil fuel consumption, there is renewed interest in the use of plants to produce industrial products that are currently derived from petroleum. As such, Mendel has identified a number of transcription factors which regulate the core biochemical pathways through which long chain organic molecules are synthesized in plant cells. Additionally, we are establishing key enabling technology that will facilitate the development of new crops that will be grown specifically for the production of these novel high value compounds. One such example is the Brassica species Crambe abyssinica, a low acreage non-food crop that has previously been grown in regions such as North Dakota and harvested as a source of industrial oils. Crambe offers the potential for production of a range of valuable compounds including high-value lubricants and biodegradable polymers. To enable the production of these types of compounds in Crambe, Mendel has developed and filed patent applications on novel methods which facilitate the transformation of this species with commercial-level efficiency.