Biorefining industries produce fuel, power, heat, and
various chemicals. The products are made from biomass, such as food waste and
forest-based materials. Today the forest-based biorefining industries face huge
challenges. The cell walls of wood biomass are very hard to break down and
large quantities of enzymes are required in the industrial process. A Norwegian based research project now aims
to develop low cost production of industrial enzymes using tobacco plants as a
“green factory”. Such enzymes may be used in the production of second
generation biofuels, and to produce biochemicals that can replace various
oil-based products. Second generation biofuels are made from non-food biomass.