A system for infiltrating plant tissue with macromolecules or microorganisms for the recombinant production of proteins and other compounds of interest, the system comprising: an infiltration chamber having at least one sealable hatch for receiving plant tissue and adapted for infiltration of the plant tissue at target pressures less than or equal to 300mbar; a release valve that seals the infiltration chamber when closed and configured such that when opened allows a reduced pressure in the infiltration chamber to return to a pressure of at least approximately 1 bar; a buffer chamber having an internal volume larger than the infiltration chamber: a vacuum pump for reducing pressure within the buffer chamber to a pressure less than the target pressure; a fluid path between the infiltration chamber and the buffer chamber, having a control valve therein such that when the control valve is opened, the infiltration chamber is in communication with the buffer chamber, and that by opening the control valve, the infiltration chamber is evacuated, and a controller, programmed for operating coordinately the release valve, the control valve and the vacuum pump, in a manner comprising opening of the control valve to bring the infiltration chamber in fluid communication with the buffer chamber and in a manner such that the pressure in the infiltration chamber is (i) reduced from a start pressure to a target pressure that is less than or equal to 300 mbar in a first time period, (ii) maintained at the target pressure for a second time period, and (iii) increased from the target pressure to a final pressure of at least approximately 1 bar within a third time period of less than or equal to five seconds. with macromolecules or microorganisms for the recombinant production of proteins and other compounds of interest, an infiltration chamber having at least one sealable hatch for receiving plant tissue and adapted for infiltration of the plant tissue at target pressures less than or equal to 300mbar; having at least one sealable hatch for receiving plant tissue and adapted for infiltration of the plant tissue at target pressures less than or equal to 300mbar; a release valve that seals the infiltration chamber when closed and configured such that when opened allows a reduced pressure in the infiltration chamber to return to a pressure of at least approximately 1 bar; a reduced pressure in the infiltration chamber to return to a pressure of at least approximately 1 bar; a buffer chamber having an internal volume larger than the infiltration chamber: a vacuum pump for reducing pressure within the buffer chamber to a pressure less than the target pressure; a fluid path between the infiltration chamber and the buffer chamber, between the infiltration chamber and the buffer chamber, the infiltration chamber and the buffer chamber, having a control valve therein such that when the control valve is opened, the infiltration chamber is in communication with the buffer chamber, and that by opening the control valve, the infiltration chamber is evacuated, and such that when the control valve is opened, the infiltration chamber is in communication with the buffer chamber, when the control valve is opened, the infiltration chamber is in communication with the buffer chamber, the infiltration chamber is in communication with the buffer chamber, and that by opening the control valve, the infiltration chamber is evacuated, by opening the control valve, the infiltration chamber is evacuated, a controller, programmed for operating coordinately the release valve, the control valve and the vacuum pump, in a manner comprising opening of the control valve to bring the infiltration chamber in fluid communication with the buffer chamber and in a manner such that the pressure in the infiltration chamber is (i) reduced from a start pressure to a target pressure that is less than or equal to 300 mbar in a first time period, (ii) maintained at the target pressure for a second time period, and (iii) increased from the target pressure to a final pressure of at least approximately 1 bar within a third time period of less than or equal to five seconds. programmed for operating coordinately the release valve, the control valve and the vacuum pump, the release valve, the control valve and the vacuum pump, in a manner comprising opening of the control valve to bring the infiltration chamber in fluid communication with the buffer chamber and in a manner such that the pressure in the infiltration chamber is (i) reduced from a start pressure to a target pressure that is less than or equal to 300 mbar in a first time period, (ii) maintained at the target pressure for a second time period, and (iii) increased from the target pressure to a final pressure of at least approximately 1 bar within a third time period of less than or equal to five seconds. (i) reduced from a start pressure to a target pressure that is less than or equal to 300 mbar in a first time period, (ii) maintained at the target pressure for a second time period, and (iii) increased from the target pressure to a final pressure of at least approximately 1 bar within a third time period of less than or equal to five seconds.