Kuvu Bio Solutions (Toothpick platform)

#biologicals AgFunder Jennifer Marston

Montana High Tech Business Alliance, in partnership with the Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative, evaluated and selected the 2024 Montana Biotech Companies to Watch. The Toothpick Project and Kuvu Bio Solutions (Toothpick platform) made the list of the top six companies leading the charge in biotech innovation! You can read the article's profile to learn why. Key Industry Trends: ♀? Female Entrepreneurship: Five of the six firms were founded or led by women, underscoring growing gender diversity in Montana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. ?? Bozeman - A Biotech Hub: Five of the six companies are based in Bozeman, with two originating as spin-offs from Montana State University, highlighting Bozeman’s growing importance in the biotech sector. ?? Grant Success: Three firms secured SBIR/STTR grants, showcasing Montana’s high success rate in these competitive federal programs. From 2012 - 2021, Montana's success rate was 18%, surpassing the national average of 16%. ?? Bootstrapping Success: Two companies self-funded their ventures, reflecting Montana’s entrepreneurial history of bootstrapping. The six finalists were chosen based on: ?? Significant revenue growth or high-growth sector involvement ?? Potential to launch impactful products or services ?? Valuable intellectual property ownership or development ?? Prospects of acquiring major clients or entering new markets ?????? Expansion plans or significant job creation in the next year ????Management teams led by experienced entrepreneurs or top experts These innovative businesses are not only advancing the life sciences but also enriching life in Montana. https://lnkd.in/g4hBWwax #biotech #agriculture #agtech #biocontrol #bioherbicide #femalefounders

Everyone wants biologicals as alternatives to conventional synthetic pesticides! Innovative farmers, agribusinesses, regulators, environmentalists, consumers, cats and dogs all want biologicals in a rainbow variety. But do you know what represents a major bottleneck to farmers getting access to the next generation of biologicals? It is the capacity of global and domestic regulators such as the US EPA to review and approve these novel products. The US EPA's Biopesticide and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD: it assesses the most novel biopesticide candidates) has 78 active ingredient applications in its pipeline today and approved only 18 in 2023. At the same time, the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (which includes BPPD) took a $6 million budget haircut in 2024. If we want novel biopesticide as alternatives, then this bottleneck must be eliminated. I'm planning to contact my local members of Congress to encourage them to ensure appropriate funding for the US EPA. Thank you to the conference organizers and panelists at the Biological Products Industry Alliance for the educating week in DC! Great timing for cherry blossoms, too.

This piece by Jennifer Marston and AgFunder with highlights from Pam Marrone is an excellent primer on agriculture biologicals and the current investment and regulatory story. Speed is key yet even the fastest timeline doesn't align with investor goals. Our feet are on the ground and running with bioherbicide development and expansion in Africa, and investors are noticing. Time will tell how this significant development plays out in the US.

#herbicides

https://lnkd.in/g4m395BE #nature #naturebasedsolutions #naturefinance

A recent survey by the American Soybean Association has highlighted the harsh reality of the Endangered Species Act's herbicide strategy on soy farmers. The study found that many farmers are struggling with the restrictions imposed by the ESA, which is affecting their ability to control pests and protect their crops. Typically, nature is not given a value in economic studies assessing pesticide restrictions. This raises an important question: should nature be given a value in these studies? What do you think? #herbicides #endangeredspecies #ESA

Scaling Saturday Innovation spotlight - The Toothpick Project / Kuvu Bio Solutions with Claire Baker, making a bio herbicide that improves smallholder farmers incomes. What does it do? Toothpick’s bio-herbicide technology is one of the first commercialized bio-herbicides in the world. The novel innovation’s initial target weed is the menacing Striga (witchweed), with the pilot social enterprise with Farm to Market Alliance in Kenya. When a farmer loses 20-100 percent of their yield to this devastating weed, using the Kichawi Kill bioherbicide to restore their crop yield breathes new life into their farm, providing food security and income. Exciting results - and you can learn more about the startup in the link in the comment - exciting to see the results from startups in our WFP Innovation Accelerator portfolio! #innovation #zerohunger #smallholderfarmers