A revolutionary initiative at the University of California, Davis is set to transform the future of biomanufacturing by leveraging engineered plants to produce vital biomolecules in resource-limited environments on Earth and even in space. Securing a significant $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation, this pioneering project, dubbed Engineered Plants in Culture (EPiC), seeks to overcome the challenges of traditional biomanufacturing, which is often expensive, centralized, and reliant on complex infrastructure. EPiC aims to democratize biomanufacturing by developing innovative, scalable platforms that can cultivate plants and plant cells in minimal resource settings, opening new frontiers for sustainable production of medicines, chemicals, and food.
Biomanufacturing conventionally involves the industrial utilization of living cells and organisms to synthesize biomolecules, ranging from pharmaceuticals to biomaterials and biofuels. While this technology has spurred tremendous advancements in recent decades, its deployment has been geographically concentrated in well-established hubs equipped with costly facilities and highly specialized personnel. The EPiC project deliberately challenges this paradigm by designing bioproduction systems that circumvent the need for such heavy infrastructure. The overarching goal is to create low-cost, resource-efficient, and highly adaptable platforms capable of functioning in underserved terrestrial locales, disaster zones, military terrains, and the harsh environment of low Earth orbit.
Central to EPiC’s strategy is the integration of plant biotechnology with cutting-edge bioprocess engineering. Unlike microbial or animal cell cultures commonly used for biomanufacturing, plants offer several intrinsic advantages. Plants can harness sunlight and carbon dioxide directly through photosynthesis, potentially eliminating the need for expensive nutrient media. Moreover, plant cells engineered to produce targeted biomolecules boast superior stability and scalability for long-term cultivation in contained bioreactors. EPiC’s research hinges on three distinct plant-based production platforms: transgenic rice cell suspension cultures, walnut embryo cultures, and fast-growing aquatic duckweed plants. Each of these platforms presents unique attributes such as rapid growth rates, genetic malleability, and robustness under constrained conditions.
The project envisions the cultivation of these plant systems within relatively simple, closed bioreactors that are amenable to local fabrication, including 3D printing technologies. These bioreactors will be designed to operate with minimal inputs, sometimes relying solely on sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. Engineering plant cell lines to optimize production efficiency, stability, and resource recycling forms another vital component of the research. By identifying specific regions of plant DNA amenable to precision gene editing, the team aims to streamline the development of highly productive and sustainable cell lines. This reduction in development time and cost is crucial for accelerating deployment in diverse settings.
An ambitious facet of EPiC involves testing these novel biomanufacturing systems aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS represents an extreme example of a resource-scarce environment where traditional manufacturing methods are simply impractical. By evaluating plant cell cultures’ growth rates, biomolecule yield, and resource utilization in microgravity, researchers seek to understand how biomanufacturing could be adapted for long-duration space missions. Findings from these space-based experiments could profoundly influence bioindustrial production on Earth by revealing new insights into cellular behavior, efficiency, and resilience in constrained environments.
Overcoming the hurdles posed by scaling plant-based biomanufacturing from lab benchtop experiments to practical applications necessitates a multidisciplinary approach. The EPiC team harnesses advances in gene sequencing, synthetic biology, and precision genome editing to refine host plants and optimize bioprocesses. These scientific breakthroughs enable the reduction of resource consumption and environmental impact while enhancing the speed at which bioengineered plants can be tailored for specific production goals. Such convergence of disciplines exemplifies the future trajectory of biomanufacturing research.
Another innovative aspect of EPiC is its focus on sustainability through the recycling of plant biomass and waste streams. Traditional biomanufacturing generates considerable waste, which can hinder scalability and increase environmental footprints. By developing closed-loop systems where plant residues are reprocessed or repurposed, the project seeks to minimize resource wastage and maximize efficiency. Such circular approaches are essential for deploying biomanufacturing platforms in remote settings or extraterrestrial colonies, where supply chains are limited or nonexistent.
Beyond its scientific ambitions, EPiC prioritizes workforce development and education. Recognizing the critical importance of training the next generation of scientists and engineers, the project integrates outreach programs and curriculum development aimed at increasing awareness and expertise in plant-based biomanufacturing technologies. This holistic approach ensures that the knowledge and skills generated will be widely disseminated, fostering innovation and adoption across academia, industry, and beyond.
Collaborations are fundamental to the success of the EPiC initiative. UC Davis researchers are working closely with Axiom Space, a commercial spaceflight company that provides expertise in space experiment design and logistics, facilitating the execution of ISS bioreactor studies. Additionally, the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space contributes to the educational and outreach efforts, highlighting the global interest and multidisciplinary nature of this endeavor. Such partnerships exemplify how academia, commercial entities, and international teams can converge to pioneer scalable biomanufacturing innovations.
The EPiC project also aligns with the broader goals of the National Science Foundation’s Future Manufacturing program, supporting transformative manufacturing research and workforce development in the United States. With an investment of $25.5 million across multiple institutions and projects, NSF FM emphasizes convergence research that transcends individual disciplines, fostering the development of novel manufacturing capabilities like those envisioned by EPiC. This funding landscape underscores the strategic importance of biomanufacturing in future economies and global sustainability efforts.
By pioneering plant-based biomanufacturing platforms optimized for minimal resource environments, the EPiC project stands poised to influence not only how biomolecules are produced on Earth but also how humanity sustains itself during deep-space exploration. Integrating advances in synthetic biology, bioprocess engineering, and manufacturing technologies, EPiC encapsulates the next frontier in bioindustrial innovation. As the project progresses, it promises to unlock new paradigms in sustainable production, democratizing access to critical biological resources, and supporting life both on and off our planet.
Subject of Research: Plant-based biomanufacturing technologies for low-resource environments on Earth and in space.
Article Title: Engineering Plants for Sustainable Biomanufacturing on Earth and Beyond: The EPiC Project at UC Davis
News Publication Date: Not specified
Web References:
– UC Davis Chemical Engineering Directory – https://che.engineering.ucdavis.edu/directory/karen-mcdonald
– Axiom Space – https://www.axiomspace.com/
– Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space – https://plants4space.com/
– National Science Foundation Future Manufacturing Program – https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/fm-future-manufacturing
Image Credits: Mario Rodriguez/UC Davis College of Engineering
Keywords: Plant biotechnology, Agricultural biotechnology, Sustainable agriculture, Bioengineering, Plant sciences
