With the world growing an increase in energy demand, the development and use of renewable, sustainable liquid biofuels has become a strategic priority for the EU. Biofuels can minimise energy import dependence, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assist rural and agricultural development. Bioethanol can be produced from energy crops that do not compete with food crops for land use. This alcohol can be obtained from biomass feedstock and in particular from cellulose, a sugar present in the cell wall of woody plants.

ENERGYPOPLAR aims to develop energy poplar trees with both desirable cell-wall traits and high biomass yield under sustainable low-input conditions to be used as a source of cellulosic feedstock for bioethanol production.

ENERGYPOPLAR (FP7-211917) has received an EC contribution of € 3 million in the frame of the priority "Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biochemistry for Sustainable Non-Food Products and Processes". This project has started on the 1st March 2008 and it will last for 4 years.

The consortium ENERGYPOPLAR, composed of 10 public and private European partners is coordinated by Francis Martin, from the INRA of Nancy. The EC Scientific Officer is Dr. Piero Venturi (Directorate Agriculture, Food and Biotechnologies, DG RTD).