Production of novel biopolymers in plants: recent technological advances and future prospects

- Plant production of novel polymers increases materials available from agriculture.
- Synthesis of PHB illustrates challenges of plant-based production of novel materials.
- PHB can be produced at high levels in biomass and oil seed crops.
- Competition for substrate from endogenous pathways limits PHB and/or plant yield.
- Future efforts should focus on increasing substrate for PHB synthesis and plant growth.