A team of scientists believe they can design new grasses that are easier digested by animals and better suited to biofuel production, according to a report in New Phytologist this week.

Scientists from Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire, working with colleagues from Brazil and the US, have identified a gene that works to strengthen the cell walls of grass, making it more robust but less digestible for cows and difficult to process for ethanol fuel.

The team created genetically modified plants and the grass was shown to grow well without this particular gene. The focus is now on increasing the efficiency of the plants even further with the aim of creating more efficient forages for livestock and improving efficiency within the biofuels industry.