Genetically Modified Bioluminescent Plants BioLux Piloted in Paris: Street Trees Glow at Night Without Electricity

Genetically Modified Bioluminescent Plants BioLux Piloted in Paris: Street Trees Glow at Night Without Electricity

French biotechnology company Glowee completed the first pilot deployment of BioLux genetically modified bioluminescent plants on Paris's Champs-Elysees on June 14. BioLux introduces luciferase genes from marine bioluminescent bacteria into the genome of plane trees, enabling the street trees to emit a soft blue-green glow at night with a luminous intensity roughly equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb.

Each BioLux plane tree illuminates a radius of about 3 meters, sufficient to light pedestrian areas. Glow intensity peaks two hours after sunset and naturally fades before dawn. Glowee says the next-generation BioLux plants, currently being optimized, will provide illumination equivalent to a 60-watt bulb.

The Paris city government plans to expand BioLux to 5,000 street trees across the city within the next two years. Environmental groups have expressed cautious support but have called for long-term monitoring of the ecological impact of genetically modified plants.