Genetically modified poplar produces more sustainable engineered wood

This is the claim of researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD), whose work was published online on August 12, 2024, in Matter.

Made from traditional wood, engineered wood is often seen as a renewable replacement for traditional building materials. It also has the potential to store carbon for a longer time than traditional wood because it resists deterioration, making it useful in efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Despite these benefits, engineered wood requires processing with volatile chemicals, a significant amount of energy, and it produces considerable waste. The researchers edited one gene in live poplar trees, which then grew wood ready for engineering without processing. 

In a statement, Yiping Qi, a professor in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at UMD and corresponding author, said: “We are very excited to demonstrate an innovative approach that combines genetic engineering and wood engineering, to sustainably sequester and store carbon in a resilient super wood form. Carbon sequestration is critical in our fight against climate change, and such engineered wood may find many uses in the future bioeconomy.”