1. Context

Since the end of 2012, the European Commission has restricted the use of edible plant matter (starch or oilseeds) for biofuel production, so as not to enter into direct competition with food. This regulatory environment is very promising for second-generation biofuels derived from cellulosic materials such as wood, plant leaves and stems, or from waste.

The deinococcus bacterium was first isolated in 1956, inside a tin can that had been irradiated for sterilization. Despite this powerful treatment, the deinococcus survived. Since 2006, the value of a bacterium with such resistance properties for industrial purposes has been exploited, in particular to convert biomass into products of industrial interest, such as bioethanol.