Power plants: Engineering biomass crops as oil factories

Recent breakthroughs in plant engineering enable crops to store unprecedented amounts of oil in their leaves and stems, not just in seeds. This innovation could revolutionize sustainable fuel production for aviation and shipping, sectors that cannot easily switch to electric power. By transforming high-yielding biomass crops into oil factories, we can meet renewable fuel standards while supporting rural economies and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Engineering crops to accumulate oil throughout vegetative portions of the plant addresses a critical gap in renewable energy production. This commentary integrates recent breakthroughs that overcome the limitations of traditional oil crops by combining genetic strategies with systems approaches to reach commercial viability. Our key message is as follows: engineered oil-producing crops can deliver beyond existing renewable fuels by simultaneously supporting industrial decarbonization and rural economic development and securing domestic supply chains that contribute to energy independence.