The sun’s energy is primarily captured by plants through photosynthesis and 90% of this renewable energy is converted into cellulose. Sustainably producing and converting biomass into useable forms of energy is a major challenge facing engineers and scientists today.

PPI is positioned to be the technology and production leader for industrial producers and users of biofuels. We are committed to the development of biomass crops designed to deliver high yielding, weatherproof biomass on marginal land with increased convertibility to fermentable sugars.

Biomass Enhancing Technology™ (BET™)

PPI has developed a significant genetic enhancement known as Biomass Enhancing Technology™ (BET™). This technology increases leaf and stem biomass as much as four-fold. For plants intended for the creation of biofuels from biomass, BET™ has great potential.

Efficient Conversion Trait™ (ECT™)

PPI’s Efficient Conversion Trait™ (ECT™) resolves the second half of the biofuels dilemma – making the plant’s cell-wall sugars more easily converted to biofuel. It does little good to have substantive biomass if the potential biofuel is so locked inside the plant’s cell-walls that extracting it is not cost-efficient. With the use of ECT™, cell-wall sugars are more than twice as accessible to enzymatic digestion.

Weatherproofing Technologies

Higher yielding crops are needed to overcome the challenges posed by global warming, depletion of fresh water reserves and the increased demand for biofuels. PPI’s portfolio of patented “weatherproofing” technologies enhances crop yields with reduced water requirements and maintains maximum growth through periods of drought and heat – critical advantages that allow the sustainable growth of biofuel crops.

BET™ and ECT™ combined with PPI’s weatherproofing traits make the economics of biomass for biofuel creation much more attractive.