University of Vaasa receives significant funding from the Research Council of Finland for research related to genetically modified biofuels

The Alliance for Socially-acceptable & Actionable Plants (ASAP), an international research consortium led by the University of Illinois, received funding as part of the Global Centres funding competition. In addition to the Universities of Vaasa and Illinois, the international research consortium includes Stony Brook University (USA), Oxford and Essex Universities (UK), and Yamaguchi University (Japan).

The research project aims to develop genetically modified plants for biofuel production. The main objective is to demonstrate that high energy and water use efficient crops can be produced for industrial use. Researchers will also study the social acceptability of genetically modified crops and biofuels, as well as ethical issues. The aim is to show how new ideas in synthetic biology can contribute to the development of a sustainable, profitable and resilient bioeconomy in a socially acceptable way. Cultural and legal factors affecting social acceptance, such as energy and genetic modification policies, attitudes towards new technologies, and various ethical and legal traditions, will also be examined.

– Genetically modified biofuels are part of the energy transition and the replacement of fossil fuels, but there are many other important issues involved, such as how agricultural land should be used and how to regulate genetic modification. It is important and fascinating to compare the differences between American and European policies, legislation, and public opinion. This is one of the topics we will be researching at the University of Vaasa, says Tommi Lehtonen, leader of the Finnish sub-project.

The University of Vaasa is involved in the project to investigate the social acceptability and ethical issues surrounding the development of genetically modified crops and biofuels made from them. The University of Vaasa is working closely with the University of Essex on these issues. 

As part of the project, the University of Vaasa is examining the social acceptance of the genetically modified crops being developed, as well as the biofuels produced from them, and the ethical questions surrounding these issues. In this work, the University of Vaasa is closely collaborating with the University of Essex.

In a four-year project, the University of Vaasa is also conducting research on the regulation, standardisation, and monitoring of biofuels. Data will be collected from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Finland. The study will result in recommendations for monitoring and public oversight of genetically modified biofuel production. This research on synthetic biofuels is well-aligned with the University of Vaasa's strategy, which is centred on sustainable business, energy, and society.

– It is exciting to be part of a large-scale NSF project, working with the top international partners in the field. The significant funding from the Research Council of Finland is a recognition of the University of Vaasa's research expertise. We are very grateful for this, says Leena Kunttu, the deputy leader and researcher of the Finnish sub-project.

New Global Centres to focus on bioeconomy

The Research Council of Finland has announced that the NSF and its partner funding agencies from the United States, Canada, Finland, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States have awarded over $82 million, or about €74 million, through their Global Centres funding competiton. The ASAP project and five other research projects have been selected as new Global Centres. These new Global Centres will focus on the bioeconomy and may include research from any combination of scientific disciplines supported by the NSF.