# Biblical Plant Fuels Burning Bush and Mustard Weed Promise Low-Cal Veggie Oil & Biofuel By Katie Cordrey | Published 2010-05-31 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/burning-bush-and-mustard-weed References: [blog.taragana](http://blog.taragana.com/science/2010/05/21/burning-bush-plant-promises-low-cal-vegetable-oil-biofuels-14074/) & [research.msu.edu](http://research.msu.edu/stories/research-promises-healthier-vegetable-oil-–-and-tractor-fuel-harvest-it) The bright red landscape plant, Euonymus alatus (commonly known as a ‘burning bush’) isn’t really the same as the Biblical bush that burned, nor is it suitable for biofuel as it occurs in nature. However, when its DNA is inserted into mustard weed (Arabidopsis,) a cousin to [commercial oilseed canola](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/protein-applications), the burning bush yields large amounts of a [vegetable oil suitable for biofuel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bamboo-biorefinery). [Michigan State University](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oleic-soybeans) researchers found that the burning bush and mustard seed hybrid oil also has properties that could make it suitable as a reduced-calorie food oil substitute. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 23% | Activity: 18% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Vegetable Oil Substitutes:** The discovery of a vegetable oil substitute from the hybrid of burning bush and mustard weed presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the cooking oil industry. - **Biofuel From Burning Bush:** The potential use of burning bush as a source of biofuel creates a disruptive opportunity for the renewable energy industry. - **Genetic Modification for Oil Production:** The genetic modification of mustard weed with burning bush DNA offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for the genetic engineering and biotechnology industries. ### Who This Affects Most - **Cooking Oil:** The development of a reduced-calorie vegetable oil substitute from the burning bush and mustard weed hybrid presents a disruptive opportunity in the cooking oil industry. - **Renewable Energy:** The potential use of burning bush as a biofuel source offers a disruptive opportunity in the renewable energy industry. - **Genetic Engineering:** The genetic modification of mustard weed with burning bush DNA presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the genetic engineering industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Yeast-Based Oil Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yoil.md) - [Sustainable Truck Modifications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clearflame.md) - [Buttery Plant-Based Spreads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wesson-plant-butters.md) - [Seed Oil-Free Fries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jesse-bens.md) - [Alternative Cooking Oil Startups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nopalm-ingredients.md) - [Cultured Cooking Oils](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultured-oil.md) - [Realistic Plant-Based Butters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beleaf-plantbetter.md) - [Weed Management Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weed-management.md) - [Environmentally-Friendly Frying Oils](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zero-acre-oil.md)