CABBI Team Accelerates Plant Bioengineering Using Robotics Lab

A team from the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) and partners used biofoundry to speed up genetic engineering in plants and use it to enhance oil production in plant cells. The study, published in The Plant Cell, is a breakthrough that reduces labor, time, and costs in plant bioengineering.

Biofoundry is a laboratory that combines robotics, computer-aided design, and informatics to streamline the process of genetic engineering. This fast, automated, scalable, high-throughput pipeline for plant bioengineering, called FAST-PB, can accelerate the process for rapid enhancement of key traits, such as oil production and photosynthesis efficiency.

The CABBI team combined the Illinois Biological Foundry for Advanced Biomanufacturing (iBioFAB) with single-cell metabolomics to engineer plant genomes and characterize cellular effects. The team developed three automated methods to speed up the design and testing of genetic changes in plants. “This means we can quickly create plants that produce more food and bioenergy, helping to address food and energy security, reduce reliance on imported fuels, and build a more profitable agricultural system,” Research Scientist Jia Dong said.

FAST-PB enhances plant bioengineering by automating genetic editing and metabolic analysis, allowing researchers to develop energy-rich, high-yield crops more quickly and efficiently. This innovation supports CABBI's mission to improve plant-based biofuels by enabling rapid, precise modifications to boost oil production and crop resilience. This approach offers a scalable and cost-effective pathway to advance bioenergy crop development and support the shift toward a sustainable bio-based economy.

For more information, read the article from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.