September 2006

Cellulose-hemicellulose networks as target for in planta modification of the properties of natural fibres

Plant cell wall polysaccharides are predominant components of fibres. Natural fibres have a wide range of industrial applications, such as in paper and textile industries. Furthermore, their demand for use as bio-composites in building and automotive applications is also increasing. For the various applications, a gain of control over fibre characteristics is important. Inherent fibre characteristics are largely...

Author(s): Olawole O. Obembe, Evert Jacobsen, Richard G.F. Visser, and Jean-Paul Vincken

September 2006

Genetic engineering, ecosystem change, and agriculture: an update

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), alternatively called biotech crops, dominate soybean and cotton production and are rapidly increasing their fraction of market share for maize and rice in the U.S.  Engineered canola is important in Canada, soybeans are dominant in Argentina and Brazil, and cotton is prominent in China and India.  Adoption is much slower elsewhere, in large part due to...

Author(s): Lawrence C. Davis