Transgenic trees for biomass : the effects of regulatory restrictions and court decisions on the pace of commercialization

Open Access

Abstract

Wood has great potential as a bioenergy source, both as a feedstock for liquid biofuels for the transport sector and also as biomass, a direct source of energy that can be used to produce electric power. Trees, however, are generally slow growing, and some species that do grow quickly are not widely adapted, hence the interest in genetically engineered (GE) trees. This article examines the regulatory process and the effects on development and commercialization of regulatory restrictions and recent court decisions. It discusses recent US legal cases, which -- although not directly involving transgenic trees -- have implications for tree deregulation and the pace of commercialization.