The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI-MP) has received £9.1 million (around €11 million) from the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) to support SyncSol, a groundbreaking research initiative aimed at optimizing plant genomes. The project could pave the way for crops capable of capturing additional CO₂ from the atmosphere or producing pharmaceutical compounds.
Toward a New Era in Plant Biotechnology
Traditional plant breeding involves labour-intensive genetic tailoring for each species — an expensive and time-consuming process that restricts broader application. SyncSol seeks to overcome this limitation by designing a universal chloroplast genome that can be flexibly introduced into various plant species, streamlining plant development and expanding breeding possibilities.
The project is led by Dr. Daniel Dunkelmann, a synthetic biologist in the Department of Organelle Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Ecophysiology at MPI-MP. With ARIA’s backing, his team will work alongside British and American collaborators, including biotech innovators Constructive Bio and Camena Bioscience, to explore a new generation of climate- and health-resilient crops, according to a press release.
“Our approach opens up completely new possibilities,” explains Dunkelmann. ”If we can optimize crops quickly and in a targeted manner, there are numerous applications: in the future, plants could produce pharmaceuticals, biofuels or sustainable materials. Our crops could be adapted to the challenges of the climate crisis and species extinction – and at the speed we need.”
Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock, Director of the MPI-MP and head of the department, emphasizes the scope of the project: “The possibilities that this ambitious research project could offer to us are immense.”
Milestone for Optimized Plant Breeding
The researchers aim to develop a universal chloroplast genome that can function across all plants in the nightshade family, including key crops like tomatoes, potatoes, and tobacco. Until now, chloroplast genomes had to be tailored to each individual species — a process that makes plant breeding slow, costly, and labour-intensive.
Their goal goes further: the universal genome will also incorporate a complex trait with significant socio-economic value across multiple crops. This innovation could transform plant breeding into a more sustainable and efficient process, with wide-reaching benefits for agriculture, the environment, and society at large.
“We are pushing the boundaries of what is possible here. But if successful, this project could have a significant positive impact on the world – and at the same time bring great economic benefits,” says Dunkelmann. ”ARIA’s funding gives us the chance to potentially achieve a breakthrough.”
The ARIA Synthetic Plants program, led by Angie Burnett, aims to develop more resilient, productive and sustainable crops. In the first phase of the £62.4 million project, start-ups and research teams from various disciplines are working on the development of synthetic chromosomes and chloroplasts. These will equip plants with new properties, such as saving water or securing yields in difficult conditions. In addition, two teams are exploring the social and ethical considerations of the technology.
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